This is part II, the celebration of light, a service on winter holidays. Stephanie Shearer completed part I the first weekend of December, the celebration of Dark, a time for reflection and letting go. Initially, Stephanie and I did not have a particular preference or a way to divide the holidays in a meaningful manner. As Unitarian Universalists, we are a diverse group of people with a desire to find our own path to God or understanding of the world. We wanted to respect that and remind ourselves that most of us do "something" to celebrate this time of year, this time Christians call Christmas. As Unitarians Universalists, historically, we have Christian beginnings, but our religion has changed considerably over the years. We do not have one religious creed to bind us. Therefore, we bring varied and unique traditions to celebrate at this time of the year, be it Christian, Buddhist, Jew or Pagan. (Hope I didn't leave anybody out). Stephanie and I reviewed the way people all over celebrate the different winter holidays. We noticed the paradox of celebrating lightness and darkness in all winter holidays. There is Bodhi Day or Buddha's Enlightenment, celebrated Dec 8th. St. Lucia Day, the Swedish feast honoring St. Lucia of Sicily, a girl who is said to have given away her dowry to feed the poor, or to have been martyred in 304 AD because of her faith depending on the research source one consults. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, commemorates not only the triumph of the Maccabees but also the universal message that all people have the right to be free. Stephanie talked to you of reflecting and letting go, "the darkness". Today, I hope to continue our discussion of winter holidays.
In life, there is a struggle to find balance and meaning in our lives. At this time of year, at least for me, the struggle for life (of life), the joy of life and the possibility of new beginnings bring hope. There is hope that day-by-day...answers will come, new questions will arise, and the cycle continues. That certainty bring me calmness. Moreover, it is essential for me, for most of us to stop. Acknowledge the paradox of lightness and darkness, to appreciate each other, acknowledge the struggle, affirm old goals, and set new goals.
Earl W. Count, wrote a book called, 4,000 Years of Christmas, written in 1948. I liked his thoughts. "Shall we liken Christmas to the web in a loom? There are many weavers, who work into the pattern the experience of their lives. When one generation goes, another comes to take up the weft where it has been dropped. The pattern changes as the mind changes, yet never begins quite anew. At first, we are not sure that we discern the pattern, but at last we see that, unknown to the weavers themselves, something has taken shape before our eyes, and that they have made something very beautiful, something which compels our understanding."
"December has the longest nights of any in the year. In centuries past folks were afraid the sun would disappear. They lit grand fires to bring it back with feasting and good cheer." This is a poem from the book Winter Lights by Anna Grossnickle Hines called Solstice. The book, which also inspired the quilt we are creating is a metaphor for our Winter Services.
Throughout the ages, as far back as the possibly the time of the Mesopotamians there were festivals of renewal, designed to tame the monsters of chaos for one more year. Winter solstice celebrations are also part of the cultural heritage of Pakistan and Tibet. In China, even though the calendar is based on the moon, the day of winter solstice is called Dong Zhi, "The Arrival of Winter." The cold of winter made an excellent excuse for a feast, so that's how the Chinese observed it, with Ju Dong, "doing the winter."
Hanukkah is tied to both the lunar and solar calendars. It begins on the 25th of Kislev, three days before the new moon closest to the Winter Solstice. As I mentioned earlier, it commemorates the Maccabees' victory and the rededication of the temple at Jerusalem. But the form of this celebration, a Festival of Lights (with candles at the heart of the ritual), makes Hanukkah wonderfully compatible with the other celebrations at this time of year. As a symbolic celebration of growing light and as a commemoration of spiritual rebirth, it also seems closely related to the other observances.
This time of year, for me is magic. Because of the chilly days, I take time to play games inside with my children and talk to them. We flip through photo albums. We make cookies and give them to our neighbors. It is also a time for me to not just reflect and appreciate what I have, but also to give myself a kick in the butt, to remind myself to live my life. Do the things I've set out to do! Set goals, so as not to go astray in the craziness this time of year often brings. Today, 38 years ago, I was born. I was born at less than 3 pounds. My dad was serving in Vietnam. They would not let him return home immediately. They said I wasn't going to make it anyway. Well, things didn't exactly turn out as planned. Life is that way. We don't know the answers and sometimes we don't even have the right questions or know what questions to ask. Still, we trudge on. Today, this season, this time of year brings clarity for me. Today I am strong. I see the light. I am glad for my blessings. I'm glad that I can enjoy my Christian heritage. I love to celebrate Christmas with my family and loved ones. I'm glad we realize there are many people who bring different traditions to this faith, different ideas to this community. Community Unitarian Universalist Church is a place where our similarities as well as differences are respected and honored. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Good Solstice and to whatever you may choose to celebrate at this time of year, I wish you good tidings!