[small update, added an image of a snow globe in Nov 2024 to help make this post a little more interesting]
Traditions…. many cultures have “winter solstice” or solstice-adjacent holidays. Our family draws on several different traditions this time of year, though most of them are less religious for us than cultural.
Advent (yes, the root of the word adventure! see https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Advent for derivation) is a season of watchful waiting and preparation for Christians in many denominations. It’s primarily a religious observance, notably on the four Sundays preceding Christmas. Each Sunday has a different theme. Though we no longer observe this particular cycle of observances, I remember as a child loving the third Sunday when a pink candle is lit for the sense of joy, akin to the last month or so before a child is born when there is much anticipation. This year, advent began on Nov 27, and the final Sunday is the day before Christmas. Here is an explanation of the third Sunday of Advent that is relatively comprehensive: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudete_Sunday
The Unitarian-Universalists have Chalica, which is a new 7-day observation of the principles such as respect for all things, the interconnectedness of Life, etc. We have sporadically been able to remember to “do” this in our household, and it’s something I always take note of on my own even when our lives are too busy to really stop and pay attention. Here is a link the the UU explanation: https://www.uua.org/worship/holidays/chalica
When our children were young, as a nod to our Northern European heritage – and as a way to separate the Santa gifts from birthday gifts for one of the children – we made a big deal of St. Nicholas’ Day on December 6, with surprise presents in stockings and yummy treats for the kids. I went all out on this one in years past, but with the “kids” now around 30 years old…. We might notice or mention it, but the fun of planning and setting things out the night before have sort of gone by the wayside.
This year, our family observations began with Hanukkah, a nod to a heritage my parents didn’t realize we had, but an elderly relative referred to “in passing” on visit. That ancestry was confirmed with a couple of popular DNA tests, but long before I took those tests – since our children were very little – we have noted this holiday that celebrates the endurance, “grit,” and near-miraculous survival of the Jewish people as a unique population. It’s a lesson everyone can benefit from: don’t give up, keep doing your best, good things come when you least expect them. We enjoy some traditional Jewish foods this time of year, though I am still trying to find a good vegan/gluten-free sufganiyot recipe. We’ve never had a menorah, but it’s on my wish list for “someday” when I have time and energy to find one that is locally made and fits our home. The latkes from Sunday evening didn’t last long (as usual!) so we’ll need/want more tasty treats soon.
Today at about 1:50 Seattle time the winter solstice occurs in the northern hemisphere. Our Yule tree is trimmed, I have plans for baking some cookies, and we’ll have a simple supper since it’s a work day for Tom and I don’t yet have the energy for cooking a fancy meal – I spotted a few more of our home-grown potatoes in the garage yesterday, so maybe more latkes! Or perhaps some good old-fashioned “boxty” which are similar to latkes, but Irish! We’ll have a quiet evening, and enjoy not needing to “be” anything other than ourselves or “be” anywhere else. The winter solstice, for me, is a reminder that the harvest of the past year is done, and we can let go of both memories and pretense – it’s time to start looking ahead. There a multiple origins that play into modern conceptions of solstice celebrations, Britannica has a very good, and not-too-long article, here: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yule-festival For folks down-under, of course, it’s the beginning of summer, and the fullness of harvest is on its way!
In addition to a small “feast” – of some sort, I like to spend this day thinking about the year ahead. And I got an email this morning that some of the seeds I ordered from Territorial Seed were just shipped! Like all agrarian peoples throughout time, preparing for the planting season (on or around the next equinox) begins months in advance. If it’s warm enough, I might see if I can prune a couple plants near the house that I already flagged for attention in mid-summer. And, if I have time/energy, I’ll start drawing up plans for the gardens… looking forward to all the yummy things that will begin to arrive near the next solstice.
I don’t want to ignore Posadas, a 9-day festival practiced in many Caribbean and American (both north and south) communities. It commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth where they lived to Bethlehem where Joseph was born and where he was required to be for the Roman census, and particularly their attempt to find somewhere, anywhere, for Mary to rest and give birth. I vaguely remember some of it from my childhood (2 years) when we lived in Puerto Rico, but neither my spouse nor I have any actual heritage or religious ties to it. Still, occasionally a student of mine will mention it, and they are always pleased that I know a little something about it!
Of course, the Christian holiday that falls next week on Monday is everywhere in U.S. culture, even for those of us who don’t observe it. [Orthodox Christmas falls on Jan 7 which is the Feast of the Epiphany for non-Orthodox Christians.] Lights on houses and other structures are delightful in the long darkness of winter, and candy canes are in evidence everywhere. In my family of origin, we had a “dorf” (German for village) made of small toys and such. I remember putting it up year after year… nowadays I have a modern village of ceramic houses and figurines. This year, it’s on our dining room table. We “stretch” our solstice celebration to include Christmas, in part because Tom doesn’t automatically get the solstice off. Festive foods – so many! We usually have a turkey or ham with “all the fixin’s” on Christmas Day, though this year I think we’ll just do a chicken dish and have a few side dishes. If there are enough chestnuts from our tree I’ll make a stuffing or a soup.
Our family doesn’t observe Kwanzaa, but I love that, like the UU Chalica, there is an emphasis on meditation and intentional action around the principles that were chosen for the holiday. I love that, like Hanukkah, there are specific traditions that surround this relatively new holiday. My deep-dive today was on this holiday in particular, and I found the website for the person who actually created it! You can find details and explanations here: https://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/roots-and-branches.html
Depending on one’s religion or cultural heritage, the 12 days of Christmas (the time between Christmas and Epiphany/Three Kings’ Day) are either a time of visiting, feasting, and joy that are specific to the Christian cycle of feasts, or a rather nebulous time that consists of finishing leftovers from Christmas and New Year’s celebrations and enjoying seasonal get-togethers and treats. Yes, Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” is named for the final evening of this festival!
And of course, New Year’s Day on the first of January which is more of a secular holiday in the United States, filled with football (American-style), foods, and enjoying a “day off.” Tom and I enjoy just hanging out most years. That’s in part due to my own health and stamina issues – and the restart of school the following day (or the day after). For me, it’s a last-ditch chance to make plans, get my house and clothes in order for the final month of the semester (what can I reasonable reteach and assess without pushing my third graders too hard?) and to finish any projects started during the all-too-short vacation.
Finally, Epiphany – in Puerto Rico, we left grass as an analog for straw for the Three Kings’ donkey and camels. There is often a church service for truly observant Christians, but most people in the U.S. by this point are “holidayed out” if they notice the passing of this day. Still, it is an important day for many Catholics and other Christians, and is traditionally the last “hurrah” of the holiday season.
The wheel of the year turns, no matter what is happening on earth. The wheel of time turns, and we are reminded that what is good will pass, and what is sad will also pass. Enjoy and remember the good; endure and let go of what is not.
There are MANY other amazing celebrations from dozens (hundreds?) of traditions this time of year. Feel free to comment with traditions I haven’t mentioned that your family enjoys!
[last note: I intended to post on Dec 21, 2022 so that is the date on this article, though it appeared as I was updating the site template on Dec 30]