#sparkchamber 122319 — Love and Light
December is a most festive month, and #sparkchamber welcomes every chance to celebrate. Lucky for us, whether based in religion, culture, spirituality, or astronomy, there is a lot going on this time of year!
For the record, “December” is a designation used to mark time in the Gregorian calendar, the solar-centric system based on 365-day year divided into 12 months of irregular lengths. It is the most widely used calendar in the world today, and the one used in the international standard for representation of dates and times. However, many of the season’s festivities are commemorations of events that pre-date the use of the Gregorian system.
For example, the Hindu New Year comes during the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar — between mid-October and mid-November Gregorian. Wrapped around that holiday is the five-day celebration of Diwali, a religious celebration commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains the world. Symbolizing victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, the festival is celebrated with decorating and lighting the home, fireworks, prayers, a feast, and exchange of gifts and sweets.
In the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Rabi' al-awwal — early-mid-November Gregorian — those of Muslim faith celebrate Mawlid el-Nabi [or Milad al-Nabi.] The religious holiday honors the birth of the Prophet Muhammad who founded Islam. It is celebrated in most Islamic countries, with festivities in praise of Muhammed — chanting, poems, recounting his life, street processions, and other forms of remembrance.
Moving along the timeline, from December 1st to 24th, Christians celebrate Advent — meaning coming in Latin — a nearly month-long spiritual preparation for the observance of the birth of Jesus. Specific religious services are held in churches those four Sundays, and special candles are lit each week, all with a focus on the real meaning of Christmas. An advent calendar is kept in the home, revealing a bible verse and/or small gift or ornament each day to inspire religious discussion and family connection. In many Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, Advent lasts for 40 days — a period of abstinence and penance that begins November 15th — and is called the Nativity Fast.
On December 6th, many European countries celebrate St. Nicholas Day in honor of St. Nicholas of Myra, a Christian bishop who provided for the poor and sick. St. Nick became known as Father Christmas, and also Santa Claus. This day commemorates his death in 343 AD.
December 21st brings the winter solstice — the shortest day [and the longest night] of the year in the northern hemisphere. Also known as Yule, this is a time of great symbolism and power for followers of Wiccan or Pagan beliefs. It marks the return or rebirth of the sun, and is celebrated with feasting, bonfires, singing, dancing, and general merrymaking.
For eight days crossing between the months of Kislev and Tevet in the Hebrew calendar — December 22nd to 30th this year — those of Jewish faith celebrate Hannukah. The Hebrew word for dedication, thus named because it honors the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE. Also known as the Festival of Lights, a candle is lit on each day of the holiday — signifying the miracle of a small amount of oil keeping the temple bright for eight days — along with prayers, songs, traditional foods, and bestowing of small gifts.
Christmas comes on December 25th, and it is both a Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, and a cultural holiday enjoyed by many non-Christians. Houses and yards are decorated with lights and seasonal displays ranging from the nativity scene to Santa and his reindeer. A Christmas tree is set up in the home under which wrapped gifts are placed. Some people attend church services, many go door-to-door singing Christmas carols, but everyone — family and friends — generally gather together for a meal and an exchange of gifts.
December 26th to January 1st is Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration of African-American heritage and vitality. The name comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza which means first fruits. Each day celebrates a different facet of the seven principles — values of African culture — of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. A candle is lit each day, along with drumming, dance, and communal meals.
The 8th day of the 12th month of the Chinese lunar calendar — January 2, 2020 Gregorian — is Bodhi Day. Also known as Rohatsu, this day observes the spiritual awakening [bodhi] of Buddhism’s founder Siddharta Gautama, the Buddha. Practicing Buddhists commemorate this day with additional meditation, Dharma study, chanting of Buddhist texts [sutras], and a traditional meal of tea and cakes. Some decorate their ficus tree with beads; some share special cookies in the shape of heart-shaped leaves. Something anyone can do on that day is to perform kind acts toward other beings.
On January 6th, the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, is celebrated — mostly in Spain, Latin America, and across Europe — remembering the day the three wise men first saw the baby Jesus.
Closing out the holiday season, on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese calendar — February 8, 2020 — is the Lantern Festival, celebrating the first full moon of the year. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year, and is also the birthday of Tianguan, a Taoist god of good fortune. Lanterns are hung to worship the gods who are responsible for bringing positivity. People gaze at the moon, solve riddles, eat traditional rice-ball dumplings in soup, and participate in or watch lion dances and dragon dances.
Different commemorations around the globe, each and all inspired by the single unifying theme of light: the light of love, the light of faith, the light of knowledge, the light of life itself. We all look for understanding and connection, and we all find it in a source — whether in the culture and tradition we were born into, or in that we seek or discover on our own as we go through our lives.
But it’s all one thing: connection to those who came before, sharing with those here now, and hope for those who will come after we’re gone. We are all here. We all breathe the air and all of our hearts pump blood through our bodies. We eat and drink and love and dream. We pray — or hope, or imagine or wish — for clarity, opportunity, fairness, equality, security, wisdom, peace. Let’s not fight. Let’s take care of each other. Let’s take care of our home. Let’s share peace, prosperity, joy, and goodwill.
“Every soul is beautiful and precious; is worthy of dignity and respect, and deserving of peace, joy and love,” says author, activist, and social entrepreneur Bryant H. McGill. And we say to everyone, from our grateful hearts, wishing you a happy, healthy, safe, warm, well-lit, abundant everything.
1.] Where do ideas come from?
All we are saying is give peace a chance.
John Lennon — singer-songwriter, peace activist
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
Nelson Mandela — anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, philanthropist
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.
Desmond Tutu — theologian, human-rights activist
4.] How do you know when you are done?
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix — singer-songwriter, revolutionary guitarist
