This is the time of the year when, in the Northern Hemisphere anyway, we celebrate the return of the light. Nearly every religion has a celebration during this time. When we learn about one another's religion, we understand one another and get along better. As fellow travelers, we should attempt to comprehend that which speaks to the souls of our neighbors. It behooves us to remember that it in no way belittles nor degrades our own holiday to acknowledge others.
There can be as many as 17 or more holidays that fall during the 12th month of the Gregorian calendar, depending upon both the solar and lunar calendars. Over the years, I have studied much about them as I feel that they are all, under the trappings, celebrating the same things: rebirth, renewal and enduring life. I'd like to share some of them with you now.
Of course, the most widely celebrated winter holiday is Christmas, which has been a part of the Christian calender since the Fourth century. It has gone through many changes over the years. First known as the Feast of the Nativity, the holiday spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia. In 1645, when Oliver Cromwell and his Puritans took over England, they outlawed the celebration of Christmas. The return of the monarchy saw the return of the holiday. In America, it was also outlawed for a time and didn't begin to become the holiday as we know it until the late 19th century. At that time, practices from England, made popular by Queen Victoria and her Prince Consort, Albert, made their way to America. As Christmas evolved into the holiday we know and love, we drew customs from immigrants and different churches, from authors and cartoonists and even a soft-drink company, until we arrived at the Christmas of today.
A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson
Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus' sake. Amen.
There are also many Saint's Days in the Winter. Here are just a few... St Nicholas' Day is December 6th. St. Stephen's Day is the day after Christmas, the 26th of December while St. John The Evangelist is honored on the 27th. The Holy Innocent's a remembered on December 28th and St. Basil's day falls on the first day of the New Year.
Many Christians count down to Christmas during Advent, which is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, four weeks before Christmas. The Advent calendar was introduced by German Lutherans. On the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, inclusive of the Sunday between November 27 and December 3. The Advent wreath holds four candles, one for each Sunday. Three are blue and one (for the last Sunday before the holiday) is purple. Of course, this differs widely amongst denominations.
Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate the birth of Christ on the 6th of January or on a Sunday close to that date. The exceptions are some Greek Orthodox Churches and related traditions (for example, Russian and Serbian Orthodox) that still follow the older calendar and celebrate Epiphany on January 19th. Depending on the tradition, it remembers the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, or commemorates Jesus’ baptism. It is sometimes called Three King's Day, as well.
The next holiday that most are familiar with is Chanukah. It begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, so the starting date on the western calendar varies from year to year. This year, it began on December 11th and lasted until December 19th. Long ago, Judea fell under the rule of the Syrian King who demanded that the inhabitants forsake their faith and worship the Greek gods. The Macabees were a Jewish tribe who refused. They fought for three years, finally driving the Syrians out and reclaiming the Temple. When they finished cleaning the Temple, they wanted to light the eternal light(N'er Tamid but there was only enough oil left for a single day. They filled and lit the lamp and... a miracle occurred; the tiny amount of oil stayed lit not for one day, but for eight days, until the supply could be replenished. Jews celebrate Chanukah to mark the victory over the Syrians and the re-dedication of the Jerusalem Temple. The Festival of the Lights lasts for eight days to commemorate the miracle of the oil. The word Chanukah means "re-dedication".
Prayer For Lighting The Menorah
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe
asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu
Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us
l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah. (Amein)
to light the lights of Chanukkah. (Amen)
The Winter Solstice is known to the Neo-Pagan community as Yule. Yule is an Old Norse word which means wheel. This is particularly apt as the Pagan calendar is envisioned as a wheel and Yule is considered the starting point. On this day, the dark half of the year gives way to the light. These are often personified as the Holly King and the Oak King, respectively. In times past this day was celebrated with bonfires and Yule logs, in honor of the return of the Sun. Crops and trees were wassailed (toasted and anointed) with cider or wine. Evergreen boughs (representing the undying God) and holly branches (with the green and red of the Goddess) decorated the houses. An evergreen tree was brought into the feasting hall as symbolic of everlasting life; these trees appeared impervious to winter's harshness. The holiday usually lasted as long as the Yule log burned, about 12 days.
God, Goddess, All That Is:
Help me see in the dark.
This longest night of the year
we celebrate the turning-point
between the Night Force and Day.
Meanwhile, hibernation.
We protect the seeds of our own creations
nurture them underground
until frost turns raindrops and each pod’s promise
bursts through dirt, darkness, and lack of faith.
And at long last, we see the value of the Night—
its part in the Perfect Plan—
to know You
and our part in it.
© 2009 Joyce Mason.
Other Pagan holidays have lent their traditions to our winter celebrations...
Saturnalia was a major Roman holiday, honoring the god Saturn with feasting, drinking, dancing and general merry-making. Restrictions were relaxed and the social order inverted. In the Saturnalia, the author Lucian relates that "During My week the serious is barred; no business allowed. Drinking, noise and games and dice, appointing of kings and feasting of slaves, singing naked, clapping of frenzied hands, an occasional ducking of corked faces in icy water—such are the functions over which I preside." The Saturnalia was officially celebrated on December 17 and, at its longest, lasted seven days (December 17-23).
Another ancient winter holiday was the Greek Brumalia, which celebrated Dionysus and his gift of wine. At this time, the fermented wine was poured into jars for storage. Of course, there was much drinking and carousing.
Dies Natalis Solis Invictus, the Birth of the Unconquerable Sun, was a popular holiday among the Roman soldiers. It honored the Zoroastrian god Mithra who was born on the 25th of December. There are many similarities between Mithra and Christ. Both demanded a high standard of behavior; "temperance, self-control, and compassion -- even in victory." Mithra and Jesus were both born into the world to save humanity from evil. Both figures ascended in human form; Mithra to wield the sun chariot, Christ to Heaven. The actual choice of December 25 for Christmas was made under the Emperor Aurelian and so it has been ever since.
The festival of Diwali is perhaps the best known Hindu holiday outside of India. This year it fell on December 17th, as it is reckoned by a lunar calendar. Diwali means rows of lighted lamps and the celebration is often referred to as the Festival of Lights. It is a five-day long festival, which is celebrated with fun and fervor. During this time, homes are thoroughly cleaned and windows are opened to welcome Lakshmi, goddess of wealth. Candles and lamps are lit as a greeting to Lakshmi. Gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared during Diwali.
May the lamps of joy, illuminate your life and fill your days with the bright sparkles of peace, mirth and goodwill.
May the Goddess of wealth and the God of Knowledge bless you with their choicest blessings
May the warmth and splendor, that are a part of this auspicious occasion, fill your life with happiness and bright cheer, and bring to you joy and prosperity, for the whole year.
May the festival of lights be the harbinger of joy and prosperity.
Originally celebrated at the solstice, the Indian festival of Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. When the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. As the Sun moves into Capricorn (known as Makar in Hindi) this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in India.
Happy Makar Sankranti Wishes
As the Sun transmigrates and begins its ascendancy
and entry into the Northern hemisphere,
let all your lives be filled with resplendent joy
and may you all have an year of success and prosperity.
December 8 is Bodhi Day, in some Buddhist traditions. Also known as rohatsu, this day honors the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama. Traditions vary amongst Buddhist sects, but all commemorate the Buddha's achievement of Nirvana and what this means for Buddhism today. Individuals may choose to commemorate the event through additional meditation, study of the Dharma, chanting of Buddhist sutras, or performing kind acts towards other beings.
Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice or Greater Eid, is the holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Because the Islamic calender is lunar, the date of this day varies; in the first decade of the 21st century, it has fallen in late November/early December. Eid is about family and blessings and giving thanks and is spent with extended family, if possible. Everyone dresses in their finest clothing for attending the mosque. Animals are often sacrificed in imitation of Ibrahim's willingness. During this time, the community makes sure that none go hungry by providing food for the impoverished.
The Persians celebrate Yalda on the solstice. The last day of the Persian month Azar is the longest night of the year, when the forces of Ahriman (the evil god) are assumed to be at the peak of their strength. The next day, the first day of the next month, belongs to Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Wisdom. Since the days are getting longer and the nights shorter, this day marks the victory of Sun over the darkness.
In 1966, Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa as the first specifically African-American holiday. It was based in part on the historical Juneteenth, an African American holiday that had been celebrated since 1867. The word Kwanzaa comes from the phrase matunda ya kwanza, which means first-fruits. It is a seven day celebration modeled on first-fruits celebrations in ancient Africa, especially on Southern African first-fruits celebration of Umkhost. The central values of Kwanzaa are the Nguzo Saba, or the Seven Principles: Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and Tmani (Faith). each of these is symbolized by a candle in the kinara, a candle holder which represents the parent people. The Kwanzaa altar is decorated with the mkeka (the mat), mazao (the crops), muhindi (the corn), kikombe cha umoja (the Unity Cup) and zawadi (the Gifts). The last day of Kwanzaa is a time of sober assessment of things done and things to do, of self-reflection and reflection on the life and future of the people and of re-commitment to their highest cultural values in a special way.
The Odu Ifa
K'a má fi kánjú j'aiyé.
K'a má fi wàrà-wàrà n'okùn orò.
Ohun à bâ if s'àgbà,
K'a má if se'binu.
Bi a bá de'bi t'o tútù,
K'a simi-simi,
K'a wò'wajú ojo lo titi;
K'a tun bò wá r'èhìn oràn wo;
Nitori àti sùn ara eni ni.
Let us not engage the world hurriedly.
Let us not grasp at the rope of wealth impatiently.
That which should be treated with mature judgment,
Let us not deal with in a state of anger.
When we arrive at a cool place,
Let us rest fully;
Let us give continuous attention to the future;
and let us give deep consideration to the consequences of things.
And this because of our (eventual) passing.
There are also several secular holidays this season. Just a few:
☼ HumanLight is a Humanist holiday originated by the New Jersey Humanist Network
☼ Chrismukkah is a slang term for the amalgam of Christmas and Hanukkah celebrated by religiously mixed families and couples.
☼ Boxing Day, on the 26th of December, is a day celebrated mostly in British countries. On this day, traditional roles are reversed and gifts are exchanged.
☼ Hogmanay falls on the night of 31 December and is a racous Scottish New Years Eve Celebration.
☼ Holiday is a vaguely-defined winter holiday, roughly coinciding with the Christmas season and observed by the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
There are even some fictional winter holidays:
☼ Festivus falls on December 23rd. It is, of course the holiday invented for the television show Seinfeld.
☼ Hogswatchnight occurs in Terry Pratchett's Discworld on "December" 32nd. The name is a combination of Hogmany, Watch Night and hogwash.
☼ Wintersday is the annual winter holiday in the MMORPG Guild Wars. It is based on Christmas and Yule. On this day, players are able to obtain neat hats.
☼ Starlight Celebration is the annual winter holiday based on Christmas/Yule/winter solstice in the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI.
☼ TV gave us Holiday Number 11 (Quark), Refrigerator Day (Dinosaurs) and Life Day (the infamous Star Wars Christmas Special), among others.
☼ Finally, Agnostica is an Agnostic winter festival created by Daren "Gav" Bleuel in the webcomic Nukees and celebrated by many of its fans.
The winter solstice awakens deep feelings in the human psyche. In ancient times, it was a call to the sun to begin a new cycle. As the years went by, we learned that the sun would always return so we began to see it symbolically as an advent of another kind of Savior, as an analogy of the renewal of life and the return of life to the Earth. We humans need a celebration of light in the middle of the darkest part of the year. It speaks to our souls.
No matter what religion, this time of year will always be a time of endings and beginnings, renewal and rebirth. May your holidays be warm and wonderful, no matter how you celebrate!