Christmas
The countdown to Christmas Day is on amidst the usual frenzied Christmas preparations. Folks are working hard, sacrificing time to meet scheduled dates, and maintain their personal goals for this time. Between work and family, the true Christmas prepping is about Moms and Dads, relatives and significant others, friends and yes, even strangers making the magic of Christmas happen. Those who are the true organizers, artists, planners who are part of the magic, not to mention our own families are the one who create the home and holidays memorable moments.
Historically, the celebration of Christmas, as a religious observation of the Christ’s birth has been at least for one thousand, five hundred years and more. Pope Julius, of the Roman Church declared December 25th as a collective celebration of Jesus’ birth. Though this date was not clearly established, December 25th on the Julian Calendar was set as the Church’s date. This date coincided with the Rome’s Winter Solstice, named “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti”.
Understanding a bit of world history helps one to understand how traditions have come into being and evolved. The Roman Winter Solstice celebration, Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, which means birth of the unconquered Sun originated in Persia and Syria of today. Sol Invictus was a sun god which Romans adopted through connected influence of other peoples and cultures. Rome’s military and trade stretched far and wide. The worship of Mithra in Persia influenced Rome. Mithra took a unique and different meaning in Rome which helped to unify many under a single deity. This singular icon later lead to the ease of conversion to worshiping the one, Jesus Christ which helped the process of conversion.
Since the Winter Solstice was the already a festive time and known to the early Romans, the merging of the birth of Christ coinciding with the Winter Solstice helped to further push the ease of conversion. There are the negative whispers about there being no Santa, and Christmas is all but commercial, devoid of religion as it was and becoming more secular where Santa Claus has replaced the true meaning of the symbolic birth of the Christ.
Today, a lot of churches are moving away from the date of Christmas knowing that it was originally a pagan festival, Sol Invictus which is Latin for the Unconquered Sun. This time was observed as the Sun’s return and the advent of longer days. Winter Solstice was a significant time to all peoples of this Earth and humans generally celebrated on different days depending on where they were situated on the globe, the return o the Sun. Whether this time is interconnected to religion or not, this time from an Earth’s perspective is significant as the Sun’s birthday / renewal.
Generally, the festivities of the Winter Solstice was about gatherings of family, friends feasting and gift-giving. Many people today do same during this time. As you enjoy this holiday time, whatever your beliefs or your views, take sometime to reflect as we move into a new calendar year. Regardless of what religious or cultural calendar we adhere to it is still important to be grateful for life and all the bounty that this Earth produces. The Sun is the main life-giving element on this Earth. It is the main material force that sustains life and without it it life will die on this Earth.
Happy Holidays!
Holidays Past & Present
Wishing you all a very Happy Holidays & Christmas Seasons Greetings. A very Happy New Year to all!
Tis the Season of Holidays!! Regardless of your faith background the Season of Holidays has a great effect on us. It is a time when the past meets the present; when past traditions become alive. A lot of people remember the joys of family, togetherness, and happiness; and many of us come together again to celebrate. The holiday season for some is not pleasant. Unfortunately, so many of us, as we move through time, past memories fade into sadness with great changes, with distance and loss. Time marches on; to unknown destinies. Recapturing old memories can be magical but can never be totally replaced or recreated. Time allows us all through movement in change to renew ourselves and our relationship with the world. It is important to take time throughout the busy holidays to have moments to be still and reflect on our past, present, and the future. The best of change happens with awareness of our present and how and where we wish to move forward with life. Holidays are a time to receive just as much as giving. Do not be afraid to receive what life gives us, and be bold and embrace change. So, whatever one’s personal situation or circumstances during these Holidays make the best of the present, no matter how difficult. Embrace the changes with self-faith, tolerance, kindness, and love. Face your truths, boldly within yourself, and with conviction assert your existence in this Universe.
Winter Solstice & Christmas
Take the time to do what you can for those who do not feel the magic of this season. The true magic is the winter solstice: The shortest day of the month. The return of the sun and daylight as experienced in the northern parts of the Earth. Christmas replaced the winter solstice over a period of time with religious significance in the Christian faith. The Christ’s Mass is interwoven with the return of the sun. Modern-day cultures celebrate the winter solstice intertwined with cultural and religious connections. Christmas, December 25th is the celebration of the birth of Christ, as many around the world do observe and celebrate according to their traditions. Christmas has become more secular with the gathering of families, friends and groups getting together to have a meal, exchange gifts.
The significance of the end of the Earth’s annual cycle of darkness and welcoming the return of the sun is a time to celebrate the end of a cycle and a new beginning. Actually the month of December is worthy of observing the flow and the transitioning of the season. In this modern age we have somewhat lost the true meaning of observing the deeper meaning of this time in nature; and, we have become disconnected from nature. Therefore, spiritually detached from the source of many of our traditions. So I welcome you to spend a bit of time truly looking further into the meaning of this season, and this time.
Best wishes to all!
Autumn
Autumn is a time of rapid change and transformation within nature. It’s a mystical and magical season.
If you live on the part of the globe where the the season of autumn occurs, you will appreciate this reflection on autumn. Autumn is my favourite time of the year for its brilliance (it’s the antithesis of spring). The leaves on the trees start turning colour, as the trees and perennials prepare for the winter months. It is a beautiful, yet melancholy time. It is also a time when the moon displays its fullness in the short harvest months. There is little time to harvest and there is a lot of work in the garden and farmers prepare for their harvest markets. The hours of daylight decrease gradually and the evenings are cool. For me it is a time of memory of past months and years gone by in a blink of an eye.
Autumn, or fall as many know it, means hard work and stocking up for the winter. The squirrels start digging up the soil and plant pots to hide their chestnuts, as they make their winter nest beds. The winter birds start looking full, as their under down feathers develop. Migrating birds start their long journeys over the stretch of seas to warmer and tropical climes. Let us not forget the delicate, yet strong monarch butterflies that make their way to the Mexican forest to gather on mystical trees. Land, sky and on the seas turtles and whales make their journey to temperate waters. It’s an ancient dance of many creatures, large and small where the movement of life on Earth is busy. It’s a balanced dance between life and death.
Autumn is a time when I long to be reunited with my ancestors. Many cultures around the world honour their ancestors through ancestor worship traditions and honouring the departed or dead to garner protection and blessings. Autumn is a sacred time. We reap the fruits from our work and we rejoice in the harvest.