Area holiday traditions abound; inclusivity and diversity are key, say organizers
Eastern Williamson County has long been a crossroads for diverse cultures, with people from many countries arriving at railroad stations in Taylor, Hutto and nearby areas.
Today, that diversity is not driven by steam engines but by an industrialtechnological revolution.
As new neighbors make themselves at home, they are adding their own holiday traditions and celebrations to the tapestry of eastern Williamson County.
THE SAMSUNG EFFECT
Samsung Austin Semiconductor in Taylor paved the way for Asian companies to expand into East Wilco. While the South Korean population has not been here long, the area is already responding with new Korean eateries and other culturally targeted services.
“Taylor First United Methodist Church is developing a new partnership with the Samsung community. Efforts are underway to reach out and welcome Koreans in the community,” said the Rev. Yohan Baek.
The church is at 907 W. Lake Drive. Baek, who is also from South Korea, was named pastor just before the South Korean multinational announced plans in November 2021 to locate a $17 billion semiconductor plant on Taylor’s outskirts. The “fab” will employ nearly 2,000 fulltime workers.
Baek said the church’s partnership will include hosting cultural events, special music programs, cooking classes, tutoring classes and a Mother’s Day Out program for Samsung employees. The ministry’s Christmas Eve candlelight service may be the first time many South Koreans experience the Christian observance with their new American neighbors.
In South Korea, however, Christmas is a national holiday. Many South Koreans are Christians and observe the occasion in ways similar to the United States, including decorating a tree. Others enjoy the holiday in a secular fashion, treating it similar to Valentine’s Day and using the day off work to go on romantic dates.
While some newcomers from Asian countries celebrate Christmas, others observe non-Christian holy days. Austin has many community centers and temples representing various religions and philosophies.
Hutto is home to both the Truc Lam Buddhist Temple and a Shree Pashupatinath Hindu temple.
The Georgetown Islamic Center is in Round Rock and there are Jewish synagogues in Round Rock and Pflugerville.
HANUKKAH
The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah is often recognized by Christians because it happens around the same time as Christmas.
Hanukkah means Festival of Lights in English. The celebration honors a miracle in 168 B.C.E. in which the candles remained lit in the Temple in Jerusalem for eight days while besieged by the Syrian army, even though the oil had almost run out.
The Temple was liberated, and today Jewish people celebrate by lighting candles on a menorah over the course of eight days to symbolize the occasion.
“Light reflects on spirituality and the fact that people are free to practice their beliefs, have freedom to think, freedom to express – it connects very strongly with America,” said Rabbi Mendel Marasow, co-director of Chabad of Round Rock. “Hanukkah is the only custom we do publicly because it is a universal message. Each person is special with their own way of thinking, and they should be free to do that.”
He added, “We have a public menorah lighting in Round Rock, Pflugerville and Austin. It’s beautiful because it gets people together.”
KWANZAA
Another non-Christian celebration occurring around Christmas is Kwanzaa, an African American holiday created in 1966 to celebrate seven ideals and values from Africa taught in Swahili.
It is a weeklong secular holiday celebrated Dec. 26-Jan. 1, and many families celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas.
“The 12 days of Christmas followed by the seven days of Kwanzaa,” said Onnesha Williams, a founder of Black Families of Hutto. “It celebrates the founding principles of community that link our culture from Africa to America.”
The organization holds a community Kwanzaa celebration each year open to the public. The event includes entertainment, art, activities and foods that reflect African heritage.
This year it will be held at Hutto Discovery United Methodist Church, 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd. For more information, email [email protected].
CZECHS AND SWEDES
While options for non-Christian holiday observances are growing, the majority of Williamson County residents have their roots in Christian-based countries. Some European populations, such the Czechs and Swedes, settled here in the 1880s and brought Christmas traditions they still practice.
Many of those observances involve special foods originally made only during the holidays.
Czechs offer a sweet, braided bread called vánočka, which represents the baby Jesus swaddled in a blanket. Pieces of the bread are fed to the family cow or placed in front of beehives to ensure plentiful milk and honey production in the coming year.
Czechs also have a host of Christmas traditions that made their way into popular culture, including kissing under the mistletoe.
Swedes make a saffron bun honoring Santa Lucia of Syracuse, the patron saint of Sweden. The Hutto Lutheran Church, 402 Church St. in Hutto, has frequently hosted Santa Lucia celebrations in addition to traditional Christmas programming.
LATIN-AMERICAN OBSERVANCES
In the Latin-American tradition, tamales are served at Christmas. Too delicious just for winter, tamales are now available yearround but are still a requirement during the holidays.
One of the most beloved traditions from Mexico is the posada, a procession of community members who travel from home to home, commemorating Joseph and Mary’s search for an inn before the Christ child’s birth.
In some communities, rather than going to homes (representing inns with no room) the procession is a parade of children carrying lit candles and is led down a street by someone dressed as an angel.
A spokesperson from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 111 W. Rio Grande St. in Taylor, said the church holds a posada most years, along with other traditional Catholic and Hispanic observances including a full midnight Mass.
SHOWING PRIDE
With so many different celebrations and observances during the winter holiday season, it’s still a time of year when people can feel excluded. Newcomers without family may have a hard time establishing relationships. Those from countries with few immigrants may not have enough of their countrymen around to form a community.
In addition, people in the LGBTQ+ population can find this time of year challenging.
“While the holidays are often tough for the LGBTQ+ community, we are a very diverse community and we celebrate in a variety of ways such as spending time with chosen and supportive family and friends, attending holiday programs at affirming churches and places of worship, participating in holiday-themed LGBTQ+ events, donating to LGBTQ organizations that support our community, creating new traditions and joy, and practicing self-care,” said Denise Rodgers, founder and member at large of Taylor Pride.
Many religious members of the LGBTQ+ community have found a church home at St. James Episcopal Church, 612 Davis St. in Taylor.
Members of Taylor Pride also participate in the Taylor Christmas Parade; the latest float bears the theme “Love is the greatest gift.”
CHRISTMAS PARADES
Municipal events focused on Christmas and the holiday season are another way that those new to the area can be included in the general aura of festivity.
Taylor, Hutto and surrounding cities have celebrations that welcome all.
Taylor’s annual Christmas Parade culminates in a tree-lighting ceremony and parade-goers enjoy the fellowship of drinking hot chocolate with their neighbors.
The parade is Dec. 7 downtown. “As part of the city’s core values, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome in our community and that extends to the many events the city hosts throughout the year. The city recognizes that Taylor is made up of community members of all different backgrounds, religions, cultures, beliefs and abilities, and is committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for everyone,” said Daniel Seguin, a Taylor spokesman.
He added, “The city’s Christmas parade is always open to everyone who would like to participate, and we welcome those of all backgrounds to be part of the parade.”
In Hutto, celebrants who gathered Nov. 30 for the tree-lighting ceremony in the historic downtown square were treated to a laser-light show put on by synchronized drones. Hutto coordinates several holiday festivities including a winter market and an adult-beverage event.
In addition to fun events, religious observation and spiritual reflection, Christmas is known as the season of giving.
Churches, schools and civic groups hold giving events that can be found on their websites. While most of these programs have been completed by early December, community members are encouraged to call and find more information for the following year.
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