Since she was born in the middle of December, we always worried that our daughter’s birthday would be overwhelmed by the Christmas holiday. Consequently, we never decorated the house, or let the “Christmas Season†begin, until after her birthday was complete.
That tradition remained, and even today as an adult, she’ll have no part of anyone in the family starting “Christmas†until after her birthday.
Which is great with me. Traditionally – back in the olden days before we were an economy and a society addicted to consumerism – Christmas actually didn’t “start†until Christmas Eve. Back then, folks would come together as a family on that eve, and decorate the home, and share good cheer, in anticipation of the beginning of the season of Christmas. Starting on Christmas Day, the season lasts 12 days – hence the song, “The Twelve Days Of Christmasâ€.
Acting like it’s Christmas too early in the year gives us all too much time to squabble over whether or not this group or that group celebrates the holiday correctly, or whether it’s OK to use this decoration or that decoration in front of this building or that building. It gives us too much time to wallow in the “stuff†that we want, and the “stuff†that people around us want. It’s a sad but true commentary on the degree to which we all submit to the consumerism that’s become our master in these modern days.
Build a new way to celebrate Christmas this year and in coming years. Come together as a family on the eve of Christmas. Decorate the house for the holiday if you haven’t already, and share in good cheer and joy. Seek and find the religious significance in the holiday that’s important to you. Let the joy and significance linger for the entire holiday season – all 12 days of it.
The winter solstice brings the shortest day of the year – the day when the sun stops its retreat toward darkness, and begins to move back toward light. The Latin root of the word “solstice†translates to something like “the standing still of the sunâ€. The sun stands still for a moment, then turns away from darkness and begins the journey toward longer days and greater light.
This year, the winter solstice brought a bonus of a beautiful red lunar eclipse to my part of the world. The moon turned dark red as the earth shaded it from the bright sun. Then, emerging on the other side of the shadow, it sparkled again in the bright winter night sky.
Each year, the solstice is the opening act for the Christmas Holiday, (though I suppose my daughter would argue that her birthday is the opening act for the solstice…) As we bask in the joy of lengthening days and growing light in the world around us, it’s the perfect time to stand still in our heart and soul for a moment, and seek the Light that waits for us. This year, a moon emerging from a shadow is an extra bonus.
Stand still for just a moment, and feel the warmth of Light shining into your heart. Open yourself and let the Light from within your Soul shine into the world around you, and into the lives of those you love. Emerge from any shadow that life or the season might have brought into your life, and find again the bright Light shining into your heart and reflecting on your face.
The “true meaning of Christmas†– find it for yourself.
