By VANESSA WINANS Toledo Blade

This month, almost every major world religion celebrates an important holiday. But if you didn’t major in comparative religion, it may seem difficult to know what to say to folks who don’t share your beliefs.

Fear not. Good intentions and a bit of education can take you a long way. But first, some explanations of the holidays.

Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims, began Nov. 28. Marking Ramadan is one of the five pillars of the Muslim faith. Until the next new moon, most Muslims will refrain from eating, drinking and enjoying other sensual pleasures from dawn to sunset. The final day of the fast is followed by Eidul-Fitr, the fast-breaking feast.

Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday, begins Dec. 22. The festival commemorates a miracle that occurred when the Jews recaptured their temple from the Syrians and rededicated it. Although the temple contained only enough holy oil to fuel the temple’s lamps for one day, the lamps burned for eight days, until more oil could be made holy. Jews mark the holiday by lighting one candle each day until the last day, when eight tapers burn in the menorah.

Christmas for Roman Catholics and most Protestants is Dec. 25. No one knows exactly when Jesus Christ was born. However, centuries ago the church designated Christmas Day as the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The date puts it near the winter solstice, once celebrated in parts of Europe, and the former Roman festivals of Saturnalia and the Kalends.

Of course, some folks have no special celebrations this month. Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian sect that marks no holidays, and some other Protestant churches do not regard Christmas, or any other holiday, as particularly special.

“Where Christendom got the 25th of December was from the pagan worship of the sun, which was related to the winter solstice,” said John Schabow, a Toledo, Ohio, Jehovah’s Witness.

“So they adopted Dec. 25 as the birth of the son of God. So it’s a mixture — the s-u-n and the s-o-n.”

The pagan elements of the modern celebration trouble Witnesses, so they do not participate. But being wished a merry Christmas does not disturb most of Schabow’s peers.

“We thank people for a good thought.”

Other Protestant churches distance themselves from worship elements added to the original form of Christianity. Members of the Church of Christ, for instance, often exchange gifts and have Christmas trees and holiday dinners in their homes, but do not have a special Christmas service at church.

As for what to say to folks of different religious views, try first to find out what their religion is before opening your mouth.

Most Protestants and Catholics, of course, are happy to respond to a cheery “Merry Christmas.” Many exchange gifts of sweets, especially cookies, so a dozen from your best recipe generally will find a warm welcome.

Still, not all Christian celebrations end at the same times. This year, Catholics have an added dimension to the holiday.

“We’re living out a jubilee year, which is a way the church is preparing itself for a new millennium,” said Sister Georgette Zalewski, director of the office of worship at the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio.

“The whole year has been about learning, reflection, and preparation.”

Even without the jubilee, Catholics and some Protestant sects always enjoy a longer celebration of Christmas. In some churches, the four Sundays before Christmas are marked by the lighting of advent candles.

Some Jews find their Christian counterparts don’t understand much about Judaism, said Rabbi Michael Ungar of Temple B’nai Israel. “One of the issues for people to understand is that it’s not the Jewish version of Christmas,” he said.

So what to say? “What I always say is ‘Have a happy holiday,”’ Rabbi Ungar said. As for cookies, try modifying shapes. “I had a neighbor who was baking Christmas cookies who found cookie cutters shaped like dreidels. She made some for us and brought them over ... . I was so touched by it.”

For Muslims, gifts of food have their place — after dark. When someone can’t eat between sunrise and sunset, proffering him mid-afternoon cookies is less than tactful.

“It is very appropriate to offer a gift like cookies around the time of the evening meal, or at the end of the fasting month, at Eidul-Fitr,” said Razi Rafeeq, president of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo.

Muslims generally wish each other “Happy Ramadan,” or “Happy and blessed Ramadan,” he said.

Kwanzaa, Swahili for “first fruits of the harvest,” is a fairly new holiday. A Swahili greeting, “habari gani” (“What’s the news of the day?”) is one way to say hello to someone celebrating Kwanzaa. A simpler greeting is “Happy Kwanzaa,” Jackson said.