Dear Colleagues,
The winter holiday season is here, during which many of us spend time with family and friends, reflect on our experiences during years past, and look ahead to 2025. As I reflect on the numerous holidays from so many of our different traditions that converge around these next few weeks, I am reminded of how much we all have in common regardless of which of the winter holidays we celebrate.
In the Christian tradition, Christmas is one of the most recognized and widely celebrated holidays. This joyous time of year is filled with festivities and presents, and since that first Christmas night over 2,000 years ago, the holiday has been a celebration of peace on Earth and goodwill to all.
This year, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah—also known as the Festival of Lights—starts on Wednesday, Dec. 25 and ends on Thursday, Jan. 2. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights and recognizes the struggle for justice by the Jewish people in the face of overwhelming obstacles, where one night’s worth of oil needed to light the Temple miraculously lasted for eight nights. Each night, families say prayers, enjoy special holiday food, and light candles on a menorah containing eight branch candles plus a central candle (the “shamash”, or “helper” candle) from which the others are lit.
Kwanzaa is celebrated every year from Dec. 26 through Jan.1 and is a weeklong celebration of festivities that honor African American and Pan-African culture and heritage. As part of the celebration, friends and family gather each day to give thanks, exchange gifts, and share feasts. The holiday was created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga as a holiday to celebrate history, values, family, community, and culture. At the time of its creation, Black Americans were at the height of their long struggle for civil rights in our country, and Kwanzaa represents an important continuing tradition as many of those struggles continue to this day.
In addition to Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, Three Kings Day—which also is known as Día de Los Reyes or the Feast of Epiphany—is celebrated on Monday, Jan. 6. The holiday is celebrated widely in Hispanic and Latin American traditions, and commemorates the Christian feast of the Epiphany, the day the three wise men arrived with gifts for the baby Jesus. Similar to the other winter holidays, Three Kings Day is celebrated with the giving of gifts and large feasts with friends and family.
As we move into a new year, I am excited to continue serving the state of Connecticut alongside all of you. Please take a moment during the holidays to reflect on the significant contribution that each one of you made to the Connecticut Department of Public Health this past year. A career in public health is a true calling, so thank you for all that you do for the residents of Connecticut every day. I appreciate your professionalism, teamwork, and evident love of what you do.
Wishing you and your family Happy Holidays, and a happy and healthy New Year!
Sincerely,
Commissioner Juthani