Before the new month begins,
it can be helpful to take stock
of upcoming holidays/holydays,
so we’re ready to approach them
with more intentionality.
Here’s a partial list of major observances* in DECEMBER 2022:
Sun. 11/27/22 - Sat. 12/24/22: Beginning of Advent – Christian time of preparation for Christmas, marked by commemoration of the events leading up to Jesus’ birth
Thu. 12/8/22: Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Christian celebration of Mary’s conception as a person without sin
Sun. 12/18/22 - Mon. 12/26/22: Hanukkah – Jewish celebration of the Maccabean Revolt against colonization in the 2nd century BCE and its reclamation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, observed via lighting candles (in a menorah), playing games (like dreidel), feasting, and music
Wed. 12/21/22: Yule – Celtic name for multicultural celebration of the Winter Solstice
Sun. 12/25/22: Christmas – Christian celebration of Jesus’ birth, revealing the mystery of Christ (God’s immanent, loving presence in human life), observed via gift-giving, prayer, music, feasting, and charity
Mon. 12/26/22 - Sun. 1/1/23: Kwanzaa – International celebration of Pan-African and Black heritage, observed via lighting candles (in a kinara) and music
Sat. 12/31/22 - Sun. 1/1/23: New Year’s Eve & Day
It can also be helpful to look at
common themes and reflection and conversation prompts,
to provide more of a center for our spiritual experience.
May we learn to hold these questions in our hearts,
not just this month, but all year long.
For the month of DECEMBER, one theme might be GRATITUDE + GENEROSITY
Throughout this Holyear of Holydays, we’ve all received and shared countless gifts with each other. As a month of culmination, December is a time when we’re naturally inclined to reflect on the goodness life has held this year, express gratitude, and focus on giving generously, spreading that spirit to others. These desires shed light on the larger motivation behind the various traditions of giving material presents during this time: Such traditions are really just incomplete expressions of a deeper spiritual longing we all have – to take part in the reciprocal flow of love.
It’s no coincidence that now is when we try more intentionally to tap into this intimacy-interchange. We’re on the precipice of another Winter, a season which can easily leave us feeling frozen out of the dynamic flow of goodness. Something within us wants to kindle a heartbeat amidst Nature’s hibernation, warmth amidst the advancing chill, movement amidst the hardening cold, fire amidst the sun’s dwindling glow. Thus, we invite one another into our embraces and homes, delight in the bustle of the holiday season, and populate the world with light. Like candles sharing flame, we share around our appreciation, gifts, and love.
This is how we get through Winter, and how we get through all of life. When so much of what we and our world needs can seem scarce, we keep an awareness of what is in abundance. This nourishes not only our bodies and relationships, but our sense of hope. Gratitude and generosity expand our notion of what is possible, our expectation that, no matter what, the gift of love and new life will always find us. Our expectation that, like each Holyday and Holyear, we and the world are always being born anew.
I offer some reflection questions and conversation starters:
What have been some of most impactful gifts you’ve given and received this year?
What gifts do you want to be more open to giving and receiving in the coming year?
What is something important you are preparing for, or would like to prepare for?
How do you tend to express gratitude and practice generosity? How would you like to?
What are some ways you can kindle warmth, movement, fire, life, and love through this Winter?
What feels abundant in your life? What feels scarce? How can these parts of your life learn from each other?
What is giving you hope these days? How can you share that with others and keep nourishing it?
May we all remember GRATITUDE + GENEROSITY in our lives!
*In this series, A Holyear of Holydays, I focus only on major religious and U.S. civic holidays/holydays that are not named after any one person. This is for the sake of cross-cultural relevance and avoiding unwieldiness.
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