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Holiday Traditions Unveiled
Overview:
Why do we have Christmas trees? Or for that matter holiday lights, egg nog, holly or mistletoe. Join us as we seek to explain the origins of a wide variety of holiday traditions and examine how they have evolved and changed over time. Bring your own fruitcake.
Key Lecture Points:
As the holiday season approaches, discussion of the origins and meanings of various holiday traditions is fun and interesting. While many religious holiday traditions and rituals are quite popular in the US, secular winter holiday traditions are also deeply rooted. In fact, many secular and/or pagan holiday traditions were later adopted by todays major religious, including the decorating of the home with evergreen plants and the use of lighting inside and outside the home.
The month of December is littered with celebrations across numerous historical eras and a variety of cultures and peoples. In common to all December celebrations is their general coincidence with the winter solstice. Occuring sometime between December 21-23, the solstice marks that day of the year with the fewest hours of daylight. It is thus unsurprising that solstice-time celebarations are popular, enlivening what would otherwise be dark, dreary winter days. Solstice celebrations occur in ancient, medieval and modern times; and are observed by peoples of diverse historical and religious backgrounds. The use of lighting at the time of the winter solstice is not a coincidence; decorating with light literally counters the seasonal darkness and provides hope for the coming year.
The ancient Greeks and Romans (pre-Christian), each had elaborate celebrations around the time of the solstice. In many ancient, pagan celebrations, sun and fertility gods figured prominently. Some believe that although Jesus Christ may have actually been born in the autumn, that early Christian officials set Christmas in December to compete with pagan celebrations. The other major monotheistic religious, Judaism and Islam, also celebrate important holidays during December. Today in the US, antheist and neo-pagan celebrations, oriented toward the solstice, are increasingly popular.
Originating in pagan traditions, the use of evergreens like holly, mistletoe and fir trees to decorate the home is also linked to the solstice. While deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter, amazingly evergreens to not. For early pagans, these plants were seen to have magical properties and also symbolized home for the coming (greener) spring.
Egg nog and fruitcake both have alcohol in common, rum usually for both. Rum drinks make the winter holiday more lively and also warmer. The rum used in fruitcakes serves as a preservative, allowing for advance preparation and more space in the refridgerator.
Exploration Questions:
What do winter solstice celebrations have in common around the globe?
How do they differ from region to region?
Reflective Question:
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Is there a particular tradition that you or your family adopted from another region or religion?
More to Explore:
December celebrations: www.religioustolerance.org
About Holly: www.theholidayspot.com
Books For Further Reading:
Edwards, Carolyn McVickar. The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice. Marloe and Company, 2005. 178 pages. Twelve stories -- from North America, China, Scandinavia, India, Africa, South America, Europe, and Polynesia speak to the virtual universal human celbration of the winter solstice. Click here to order.
Matthews, John. The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas. Quest Books, 2003. 250 pages. Brimming with stories, activities, folklore, and recipes, this popular holiday gift book traces the history behind many sacred traditions of the season and provides practical suggestions for celebrating the Winter Solstice as a joyous, life-affirming festival. Click here to order.
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