LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – As the holiday season arrives, the way people celebrate often depends on where they live and the religion they practice.
Pastor Chip Bullock of Lima Community Church spoke to the Lima Rotary Club this week about how different religions observe winter holidays. He said that while Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on Dec. 25, many other faith traditions around the world hold celebrations during this time of year.
He also noted that the calendar a religion follows may dictate whether it has a winter holiday at all. For example, some religions, including Islam, do not have a set winter holiday because their calendar shifts from year to year.
“You know, I think just a sense of understanding of why people worship the way they do, and why they celebrate in the way they do. It's been good for me to just kind of sit down and realize why other faiths do certain things, different celebrations and festivals. I've actually learned or continued to learn more, as I've researched for this talk today,” said Rev. Chip Bullock, lead pastor of Lima Community Church.
The Buddhist holiday falls on Dec. 8, and those in the Jewish faith are preparing to celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah, which begins Sunday evening.
