Winter holidays beyond Christmas

True

Fun fact: Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the lighting of the menorah over eight nights.

False

Fun fact: Kwanzaa began in 1966 in the United States, created by Maulana Karenga to celebrate African heritage.

False

Fun fact: The date follows the lunar calendar and falls between late January and the middle of February.

True

Fun fact: In the Northern Hemisphere the winter solstice falls on 21 or 22 December. In the Southern Hemisphere the shortest day is in June.

True

Fun fact: On 13 December girls in white dresses wear crowns of candles to honour Saint Lucia, a festival of light in the dark Swedish winter.

Kwanzaa

Fun fact: The seven principles are called the Nguzo Saba: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Latkes (potato pancakes)

Fun fact: Foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot doughnuts, recall the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.

China, Vietnam, Korea

Fun fact: China celebrates Chunjie, Vietnam celebrates Tết and Korea celebrates Seollal. Many other Asian countries mark it too.

UK, Canada, Australia

Fun fact: Boxing Day is on 26 December. One traditional explanation is that wealthy households gave boxes of gifts to their servants and workers.

Toshikoshi soba noodles

Fun fact: Toshikoshi soba means 'year-crossing' noodles. Their length stands for a long life, and they snap easily, so they also stand for leaving the old year's troubles behind.

• Hanukkah → Menorah
• Lunar New Year → Red envelopes
• Kwanzaa → Kinara

Fun fact: The Hanukkah menorah (hanukkiyah) holds nine candles, the Kwanzaa kinara holds seven, and red envelopes carry gift money at Lunar New Year.

• Japan → Ringing temple bells 108 times
• Mexico → Las Posadas
• Scotland → Hogmanay

Fun fact: Japanese temples ring the bell 108 times on New Year's Eve, Mexico holds Las Posadas processions from 16 to 24 December, and Scotland's Hogmanay includes fire festivals and first-footing.

• Winter Solstice → Dec 21/22
• Hanukkah → 8 days, usually in December
• Lunar New Year → Late Jan to Feb

Fun fact: Hanukkah starts on 25 Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, so it begins somewhere between late November and late December. Lunar New Year falls between 21 January and 20 February.

• Dumplings → Lunar New Year
• Black-eyed peas → Kwanzaa
• Latkes → Hanukkah

Fun fact: Black-eyed peas are a common dish at a Kwanzaa feast, as they are across African American cooking. They are also eaten for luck on New Year's Day in the American South.

• Kwanzaa → USA (1966)
• Lunar New Year → Ancient China
• St. Lucia's Day → Sweden

Fun fact: Kwanzaa dates from 1966, Lunar New Year goes back thousands of years in China, and St. Lucia's Day is the best-known in Sweden, though Saint Lucy herself was from Syracuse in Sicily.