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THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT
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THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CALENDAR
The Third Circuit Court Diversity and Inclusion Team's Mission Statement:
"We appreciate our common connection and respect our diverse and unique human experiences. We move forward as an inclusive organization as we provide accessible and equal justice."
The Court's Diversity & Inclusion Team strives to ensure the values of its diverse bench, staff, and court users are acknowledged and reflected in our delivery of service as well as our work environment.
In that spirit, the team creates and shares a monthly list of various holidays and observations along with some celebration suggestions. We invite our work community and the community at large to contribute.
December 2019
Winter Solstice - December 21 @ 11:19 p.m. EST
Hanukkah - December 22-30
Christmas Day - December 25
Kwanzaa - December 26
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WinterFest: Multi-Cultural Holiday Celebration in the Log Cabin
December 8, 2019, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Free Fun for Families, snow or shine!
Bring your whole family for an afternoon of old-fashioned holiday fun at WinterFest, a multi-cultural holiday festival at the historic Log Cabin. Enjoy Christmas magic with Santa and Mrs. Claus, horse & carriage rides through the woods (suggested donation $5 per adult, $2 per child), hot cocoa and cookies, holiday ornament making, and holiday music and entertainment TBA as well as Hanukkah presented by the Downtown Synagogue, Kwanzaa and more.
LOCATION: WinterFest will take place in Palmer Park, in and around the Log Cabin which is located just north of McNichols (Six Mile Road) and just west of Woodward Ave. in Detroit. Follow the signs to free parking. Admission is free; but small donations are suggested for carriage rides.
Menorah in the D
December 22, 2019 4:00 p.m.
Campus Martius Park
Menorah in the D is an annual community-wide menorah lighting event at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit. The 26 foot tall menorah was designed and built by artists (and brothers) Erik & Israel Nordin of Detroit Design Center in Corktown.
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Observations/facts about December (courtesy of www.timeanddate.com):
Winter Solstice - December 21, 2019 at 11:19 p.m. EST
It is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the darkest day of the year. The December Solstice occurs when the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.4 degrees. In other words, when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the Sun. Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures, and has been marked by festivals and rituals. It marked the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days.
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Hanukkah - December 22, 2019 at sundown - December 30, 2019 at sundown
Jewish communities in the United States celebrate the first day of Hanukkah on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar. The Hanukkah period lasts for eight days and is celebrated from the 25th day of Kislev to the second day of Tevet. The first night of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev. Many Jewish people light the menorah, also known as the hanukiah (or chanukkiyah), which is a type of candelabrum.
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Christmas Day - December 25, 2019
The original meaning of Christmas is a special church service, or mass, to celebrate the birth of Christ. The story of the Nativity, or the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, are particularly important in religious celebrations of Christmas. However, many traditions that are around today have their roots in pre-Christian winter festivals. These include the importance of candles and decorations made from evergreen bushes and tree, symbolizing everlasting light and life.
In Roman times, a mid-winter festival was held. This was a relaxing time with a lot of parties and merry making. It was also common to give other people small gifts, such as dolls for children and candles for adults. This festival culminated with the celebration of the winter solstice, which fell on December 25 in the Roman calendar. In Scandinavia, a festival called Yule and lasting up to twelve days was held in late December and early January. In this time people burnt logs and held parties. These customs have influences how Christmas Day is celebrated today in the United States.
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Kwanzaa - December 26, 2019
Kwanzaa is a holiday honoring the culture and traditions of people of African origin. It is celebrated by people from a range of African countries and their descendants. Kwanzaa consists of a week of celebrations, which ends with a feast and the exchange of gifts. During the celebrations, candles are lit and libations are poured. A libation is the name given to a ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. During Kwanzaa, a wooden unity cup is used to pour the libations.
A Kwanzaa ceremony often also includes performance of music and drumming, a reflection on the Pan-African colors of red, green, and black and a discussion of some aspect of African history. Women often wear brightly colored traditional clothing. Some cultural organizations hold special exhibitions of African influenced art or performances during the period of the celebrations.
Originally the people observing Kwanzaa did not mix any elements of other festivals into their celebrations. However, in recent years, it has become increasingly common for people to mix elements of Kwanzaa with Christmas or New Year celebrations. For instance, a family may have both a Christmas tree and a Kwanzaa candlestick on display in their home. This enables them to include both Christian and African inspired traditions in their lives at this time of year.
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