The holidays are upon us. The next three months are a combined celebration as I see it. Happy Holidays are for the next three months.
Halloween opens the holiday season. Halloween has always been my favorite. Halloween has received condemnation from so many religious groups calling it a devil worship holiday. To me it is the holiday that gives us the chance to face our fears. Death is symbolized by skeletons and skulls, fear, by demons and monsters. So in Halloween we dress up, the kids dress up, and we give treats to kids as they meet and face their fears. This is an important life lesson for kids in that they can face their fears. For adults it can be a celebration of the outrageous. It is also the observation of the unknown of the future, the fear of loss, fear of change, maybe in leadership or direction of an organization, a nation or a company. So this Halloween when the children come knocking, reward their bravery.
Thanksgiving is a celebration of family, of the harvest, of accomplishment. We celebrate the bounty of all we have achieved and received on this holiday and our charity in giving to others. The Peoples of the first Nation of this continent welcomed those who had sacrificed in the undertaking of the voyage to seek a better life and greater freedom, by sharing the bounty of their harvest and welcoming them into their family celebration. Despite the conquering nature of the European peoples, we still recognize and celebrate this momentous sharing by the peoples of the first nation. The event was even given religious recognition and then appropriation.
Christmas is the celebration of new beginnings, in the religious community it is signified by the birth of a child. It is the hope for a better future. Yes, I am aware that it was the original winter solstice festival and that it was appropriated by the church to weaken the pagan celebration and aid in their conversion efforts. I still celebrate it as a symbol of my belief, and that it symbolizes a greater hope for all of us and the hope of unity and goodwill for all mankind.
New Years is the new beginning.
So my wishes during this holiday season, reward bravery. Be charitable to family, friends and neighbors. Celebrate your success and bounty. Share. Celebrate the hope for a better future and show your goodwill. Let us all come together and happy holidays.