In the winter, Christmas and Hanukkah are not the only religious holidays celebrated.
Buddhism, a religion with more than 1 million American followers, will celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa Day on Dec. 7, which celebrates the founder of the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism.
On Dec. 10, the religion recognizes the Dalai Lama's receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
Buddhism follows a lunar calendar, so its holidays do not fall on the same dates each year. Sister Tenzin Kacho, a monk who leads Buddhist services at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., said there are two fixed dates for celebrations for Tibetan Buddhists.
Students and teachers come together and do certain prayers to celebrate these days, Kacho said. Sometimes these prayers are said in Tibetan and sometimes in English.
"Lama Tsongkhapa Day usually falls on winter solstice, marking the darkest, longest day in winter," Kacho said. "So traditionally people would put candles in their windows at homes, and in India and certain larger communities ... they will put up amazing light ornaments, similar to our Christmas ornaments."
Along with the prayers, people bring lots of flowers, Kacho said, and "food to share like fruit, cookies, candies, breads and candles"
