For those who do not recall Funny Papers Again of two weeks ago, it was about Christmas and so I had done some research about December celebrations, but due to word allotment it was omitted because I went on, some would say, on and on, about Christmas time in Greenfield many seasons ago. On this day before Christmas Day, may I present to you some gleaned information.
The sites I visited about celebrations during the month of December for the most part find agreement, with minor variations, but are unanimous that rituals and celebrations fall into two categories, scientific, or natural, and religious. In some cases, the two are combined. I read through 11 celebrations with an early date of Dec. 6 and a final date of Jan. 1; this is a brief look at some significant dates around the world.
On the sixth day of the month, much of Europe celebrates St. Nicholas Day, the patron saint of sailors and children. St. Nicholas had wide influence in the 4th century in what is now Turkey through his generous, gift-giving nature, especially to poor children and was recognized by the church from Syria to Moscow and most of Europe. In the 17th century the Dutch, who pronounced the name Sinterklaas, brought stories of the saint to America, and by the 19th century Santa Claus was well established in culture. While some universally still use Ol’ St. Nick in reference to Santa Claus, they do not in the United Kingdom, where he is known as Father Christmas.
Dec. 8is a day observed by two religions. Catholics attend mass on Immaculate Conception Day, a day based on New Testament stories that a young virgin named Mary would give birth to a savior as prophesied in the Old Testament.
On that same day the Buddhists celebrate Secular Bodhi Day, which varies according to the Lunar Calendar, while Historic Bodhi Day is celebrated this year on Jan. 2. A brief explanation for the celebration traditionally tells of a pampered prince named Siddharth Gautama who became disenchanted upon finding the world had poverty, illness and other bad things happening, and so he sought for years to find an answer how to alleviate it all, finally exhausting himself in the effort and collapsing. This was when Siddharth found enlightenment and became Buddha, who is followed by millions around the world.
Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated in Mexico and by Mexican-Americans on Dec. 12 when those who are able travel to the Basilica of Lady Guadalupe in homage to the patron saint of Mexico and a symbol of patriotism and devotion. This tradition is based on reported sightings of apparitions of the Virgin Mary by a Mexican peasant in 1531, and today images of the Lady are found in many Mexican homes and businesses.
The eight days celebrated by the Jewish world, Hanukkah, varies according to the Lunar Calendar, this year it begins Dec. 25 and ends Jan. 2. Known as The Festival of Lights, Hanukkah honors the retaking of the Jewish Temple by the small Maccabbean army who defeated a powerful Greek-Syrian army in 165 B.C. when one day’s worth of lamp oil lasted for eight days. Today, Jews light an eight-candle Menorah in honor of each day, the ninth candle used to light the others. Celebrants exchange small gifts on each day.
Because Dec. 21 is when the orbit of Earth reaches the point of shortest days and longest nights, it is celebrated in many places as the day when the sun begins to shine longer each day leading to days of warmth and growth. Winter Solstice celebrations date back thousands of years and take place in Scandinavia, Japan, England and other lands. One such celebration, Soyal, has participants that range from European Druids to South American Incans and the Hopi and Zuni tribes of North America. Wiccans and Neo-Pagans celebrate the day, which they call Feast of the Yule, with the traditional burning of a Yule log; a practice taken on by Christians and Jews alike.
Christmas Day is celebrated on Dec. 25 in many parts of the world based upon stories found in the gospels of the New Testament telling of the birth of a prophet as foretold in the Old Testament. The day is a combination of various celebratory days and characters, with gift exchanges based upon gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh given to the newborn child by three Asian dignitaries.
The Prophet Zoroaster founded Zoroastrianism more than 3,000 years ago and is one of the oldest of the world’s monotheistic religions. On Dec. 26, Zoroastrians honor the death of their prophet typically by visiting a fire pit and offering prayers.
Dec. 31 is the final day of the year on the Gregorian calendar and is celebrated with large gatherings, fireworks and revelry in many places in the world. In Russia, Grandfather Frost is greeted and gifts given much like Christmas day.
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We are often reminded that politics and religion are topics to be avoided in polite conversation because of strongly held beliefs of varying positions exist within all of us that when openly discussed usually result in hard feelings or actual separations between people. But at this time in our history, the influence of religion into the field of politics is very evident, and what influence that may have on our system of government in the next couple of years is unknown. We need not let those influences detract us from what is important on any day of the year, and that is charity and goodwill toward fellow humans, which are acts and attitudes that transcend the dogmas of vying religions and political parties and bring us all to the same end of peace in our lives and the lives of those around us. And that is a good thing for all people at all times.
Take care. Peace.
