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Happy Hanukkah!
Chag Sameach/Happy Festival of Lights! Celebrated from December 25 – Jan 2.
Wishing you a season of peace.
Merry Christmas!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful day packed full of fun and love.
Discovering the Rich Tapestry of December Holidays
December is a diverse and multicultural month filled with various holidays that hold deep significance for people around the world. Let’s explore some of these holidays to appreciate the traditions, cultures, and meanings that make this month so special.
Bodhi Day (December 8th) is a Buddhist holiday commemorating the day when Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Buddhists often spend the day in meditation, reflecting on the teachings of Buddhism and striving for personal enlightenment.
Christmas (December 25th) celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in Christian tradition, emphasizing family gatherings, gift-giving, and spreading joy and goodwill. Many unique customs and traditions exist in worldwide cultures such as the Feast of the Seven Fishes in Italy, Las Posadas in Mexico, or the lighting of Advent candles.
Dongzhi Festival (December 21st or 22nd) is a Chinese celebration of the Winter Solstice, symbolizing the return of longer days and warmth. Families enjoy tangyuan (sweet rice dumplings) and spend quality time with loved ones.
Hanukkah (December/dates vary) also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration. It symbolizes hope and the miraculous menorah. Families gather each night enjoying delicious fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot. A candle is lit on the menorah, symbolizing the oil that burned for eight days instead of one. It’s a time of reflection and tradition.
Kwanzaa (December 26th – January 1st) is a celebration of African heritage established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. The seven days are dedicated to one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, such as unity, self-determination, and creativity. Families light the Kinara, exchange gifts, and engage in meaningful rituals.
Pancha Ganapati (December 21st – 25th) is a modern Hindu festival created in the 1980s to provide an alternative to Christmas for Hindus. It celebrates Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and prosperity. Families decorate a shrine, exchange gifts, and enjoy vegetarian feasts.
Winter Solstice (December 21st) has been celebrated for centuries as a time of rebirth and renewal marking the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Many cultures have traditions involving bonfires, feasting, and rituals that welcome the return of longer days.
Feeling Nostalgic
My grandsons, Rowan and Sawyer trimming their tree last year.
I love the nostalgia of the holiday season. There are many different celebrations in December, one of which may reflect your own heritage and belief system. I grew up in a small farm community in Oregon. My father was a minister at a community church, and our traditions were rooted in Christian beliefs.
I still remember our church youth group being transported by a tractor-drawn wagon filled with hay bales to go Christmas caroling throughout our rural community. I recall making popcorn balls and pulling taffy. I also remember trimming our Christmas tree with colored lights and tinsel—each strand hung individually, as my mother insisted.
I’ve come to realize that what makes those memories so special is the time spent with family and friends. There was a sense of wonder and celebration, along with the comforting security of ritual and tradition.
My husband suffers from dementia. As his memory fades, for him, all that’s left is the here and now. There is a simplicity and happiness to being in the moment—a sense of wonder and the ability to experience joy without fear or anxiety.
This year, no matter what holiday or traditions you celebrate, I wish you wonder, and the gift of time spent with family and friends.
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”
—Quote by American author Hamilton Wright Mabie —
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is fast approaching. This seems an appropriate time to reflect on the year and all I am thankful for. This has led me to explore the connection between gratitude, thankfulness, and joy.
In positive psychology, gratitude is the human way of acknowledging the good things in life. I thought of a clip from “The Morning Show” that illustrates these thoughts. (A quick note: you may have to sit through a short commercial ad before the clip from “The Morning Show” begins.)
Our deepest gratitude to those who serve and protect!
We love our brave soldiers and we are so happy when they are able to return home to their loved ones!
Thank you for all you do!
National Native American Heritage Month
November is National Native American Heritage Month. Let’s celebrate and honor our Native American friends!
This Year We Celebrate YOU!
Save the date and let me know if you plan to attend our annual Pie Giveaway and Client Appreciation Party!
Please RSVP here and let me know if you are staying for the event or just want to stop by for your pie! https://form.jotform.com/242965400181150
Time to Fall Back!
Please remember to set your clocks back one hour before you tuck your loved ones into bed.
