Holidays Across the Cultures

While watching an episode of "Northern Exposure" this morning, I learned an important historical and cultural tradition of the native Alaskans regarding their late December celebration.  The story of the Mighty Raven was told during a ritual performance, in the form of a short play.  The Mighty Raven lived in darkness because the Big Chief had greedy possession of the ball of light.  So the raven transformed itself into a spruce needle and floated along the river where the chief's daughter usually gathered to drink.  She took a drink of water from the river and swallowed the spruce needle.  She became pregnant with a son, who was the raven in disguise.  The boy would cry and cry and could not be consoled, until, one day, his grandfather, the Big Chief, gave him his ball of light to play with.  The boy then transformed back into the Mighty Raven and took the ball of light to the sky for everyone to enjoy.

 

This was celebrated alongside Christmas...at least, in Cicely, Alaska!  The town was adorned with greenery, colorful lights, Christmas trees and ravens!!!  The local general store sold outdoor and tree decorations with the traditional Native raven design.  The residents wore tees & sweatshirts with the raven design, too.  And Chris, the local radio DJ, read from Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven." 

 

The whole town, both Indians and non, turned out for the performance piece which was beautiful, filled with meaning.

 

It got me wondering, what are the many ways the different holidays and traditions are celebrated by the varied people, populations, cultures?  And also, what were the historic origins of the holidays I acknowledge and how have the celebrations changed from then to now??  Would they even be recognizable to our ancestors?