Not Just About Christmas

By Stephanie Fenton This week we wish you a merry Christmas! But first, we recognize a seasonal milestone marked by many ancient traditions: the Winter Solstice. Saturday, some African Americans observe Kwanzaa, Christians honor St. Stephen, and Zoroastrians mark the death anniversary of their prophet, Zarathustra. Also this week: Muslims observe the Day of Ashura in various ways, Jews hold a minor fast, and Catholic Christians celebrate the Holy Family. Read all about these holidays and observances below. Monday Don't feel you're in the dark even though it's the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Here is a website with some great ideas to beat the winter blues and enjoy time inside. Many ancient calendars revolved around the natural world, so the Winter Solstice has long been a time for elaborate ceremonies. This year, the Winter Solstice (also called Midwinter) will occur in the Northern Hemisphere at 5:47 p.m., GMT. The word "solstice" is derived from the Latin words "sol" and "sistere," meaning "sun" and "to stand still." Many cultures hold festivals of rebirth, most often involving the sun or sun gods. According to cyclical calendars, the year is "reborn." In Greek mythology, the gods and goddesses met on the Winter Solstice; in ancient Roman tradition, a festival honoring Baccus occurred for one month; according to Wiccan belief, Winter Solstice is one of the eight solar holidays and celebrated as the rebirth of the Great God; and in the Scandinavian Norse and Germanic tribes, Midwinter called for a Yule party. Today, many Wiccans still hold to the rites associated with Winter Solstice (the Druidic tradition is where the Midwinter colors of red, green, and white originated). Circle Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education and community celebration, offers more information. One of the world's most noteworthy structures -- Newgrange, a megalithic site in Ireland that predates the Egyptian Pyramids and even Stonehenge -- has a very special tie with Winter Solstice. This circular structure is, according to carbon dating, approximately 5,000 years old. ( Knowth.com has extensive information on Newgrange.) This Passage Tomb that took a work force of 300 at least 20 years to build receives a strong shaft of sunlight in its central chamber at dawn on the Winter Solstice. This event lasts for 17 minutes on the dawn of the Winter Solstice, and for a few minutes on some of the mornings surrounding Winter Solstice. ( Fodors has some neat tourist tips.) Archaeologists didn't make this startling discovery about Newgrange until 1969, although modern historians still aren't sure of all the reasons why this ancient structure was built. Friday Have a merry Christmas! For fun recipes, activities, and letters to Santa, checkout Northpole.com -- or, if you're looking for carols, games, or charities, visit AllThingsChristmas.com ! While millions of Americans will be gathering around a decorated evergreen tree, opening gifts from "Santa" and feasting, Christians will also be commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. It's accepted that December 25 was not Jesus' real birthday. The Christmas date may have been chosen either because of an ancient Roman festival or its proximity to the winter solstice. ( The History Channel gives a great overview of the history of Christmas.) Nevertheless, the evening of December 24 and December 25 have long been known as Christmas holidays. (See the Patheos article on the history and traditions of Christmas.) This year at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI will break tradition by celebrating the Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica at 10 p.m., instead of midnight (a copy of the official press release was reprinted here ). Vatican aides assure that the 82-year-old's health is fine, and that the time was moved to allow the pope to get more rest during the busy Christmas season. On Christmas day at noon, Benedict will read the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (a Latin phrase indicating that he is addressing the City and the World). This annual message concerning the religious significance of Christmas and a reflection on wars and other current events will be read from the central balcony of the basilica. The message previews concerns Benedict will carry to the world during multiple trips scheduled in 2010. Outside of religious traditions, many stories, songs, and cultural traditions have been integrated into the season too, including the popular tale of moral guidance by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. (Did you know that, after two years of research, Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in a mere six weeks? The famous English author began writing in October of 1843 and finished in time for Christmas publication.) Moral guidance remains a major theme at Christmas each year and organizations like the Salvation Army see donations rise significantly. This year, the Salvation Army increased its annual Kettle Campaign and Angel Tree program efforts. Saturday African Americans reconnect with African heritage during Kwanzaa. Celebrated from December 26 - January 1 each year, Kwanzaa originated in 1966 around the Black Nationalist movement of the 1960s. (Last year, the first and only feature film focused on Kwanzaa was released. The Black Candle , narrated by Maya Angelou, won Best Documentary at the African World Documentary Film Festival.) The 2009 theme of Kwanzaa is "Principles and Practices of Kwanzaa: Repairing and Renewing the World." (Find out more on the Official Kwanzaa Website. ) During Kwanzaa, African Americans light a kinara, or candle holder, enjoy feasts, and give gifts to one another. Kwanzaa was created by Ron Karenga, who claimed that his goal was to "give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." (Read more on The History Channel's website.) Kwanzaa was originally intended as an alternative to Christmas, although today, Karenga says that Kwanzaa shouldn't act as an alternative for one's own religious holiday. In 1997, Karenga branched out even more by saying that people of any race can, and should, honor Kwanzaa, just as Americans mark Cinco de Mayo and the Chinese New Year. (Recipes, creative ideas, and further information are available at Kaboose.com.) Each day of Kwanzaa is meant to honor one principle, and the seven principles of Kwanzaa are: Unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Traditionally, families decorate their homes with African art and cloth, while donning traditional African clothing and eating fresh fruits. No one knows exactly how many people celebrate Kwanzaa. While the National Research Foundation claimed, in 2004, that approximately 4.7 million Americans do so, Karenga claimed in 2006 that Kwanzaa has 28 million followers. Lee D. Baker insists that 12 million people honor Kwanzaa each year. Also on Saturday "Good King Wenceslas looked out" -- it's the Feast of Stephen! On December 26, Western Christians honor the first Christian martyr (Eastern Orthodox Christians remember St. Stephen on December 27). St. Stephen's name means "crown," as he was the first disciple of Jesus to have received the martyr's crown. His feast day is celebrated on the day after Christmas because of his significance as the first martyr. St. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church -- one of seven ordained by the apostles to look after widows and the poor ( Catholic Culture has more information). According to the book of Acts, St. Stephen had such an influence over those who heard him speak that his enemies plotted to kill him. St. Stephen's enemies persuaded men to lie about him, yet even upon his death by stoning, St. Stephen prayed to God that his enemies be forgiven (find out more at this Catholic site, Fish Eaters ). It has become tradition that Christians pray for their enemies on December 26. Boxing Day originated from this Christian feast day, as St. Stephen was one of the first "social workers" of the Church who organized meals for the poor. In some homes, a box is set next to the Christmas tree, and this "St. Stephen's box" is filled with clothing and other articles for the poor. According to popular song, Good King Wenceslas was able to enjoy his own holiday celebration -- because he was a king who "looked out, on the Feast of Stephen" with a compassionate eye for the cold and poor. (Read the song lyrics here. ) More on Saturday Zoroastrians mark the death anniversary of the prophet Zarathustra, the founder of the Zoroastrian religion. Historical accounts vary widely -- some claim he lived sometime around 6000 B.C.E., while many scholars argue that it was closer to 2000 B.C.E. -- but generally, it's agreed that Zarathustra, or Zoroaster, died at the age of 77. ( PBS published a short piece on this observance in 2004.) It is unknown how Zarathustra died; some say he was killed while in prayer by a foreign enemy of the king and others believe he died a peaceful, natural death. The messages of Zarathustra are more concrete than the historical accounts about his life, as his messages were written in the Gathas Zoroastrian scriptures. Tradition holds that Zarathustra wrote the Gathas under divine inspiration from God (as opposed to the words of these scriptures being a direct revelation from God). ( The Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Singapore offers lots of information on Zoroaster's life, philosophies, and more.) In no sect of Zoroastrianism is Zarathustra regarded as a divine figure, and devotees teach that this prophet made a devoted effort himself to communicate with God. Zoroastrian followers have dwindled in numbers through the years and, today, they are most prevalent in India. Sunday Many Shi'a Muslims honor the martyrdom of Muhammad's grandson and Sunni Muslims honor Moses' and Muhammad's fasts on the Day of Ashura (spellings vary). The word "Ashura" means "10th," as this is the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muhurram. Shi'a Muslims spend the day in mourning for Husayn ibn (or Hussein) Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who died in the Battle of Karbala on this date in 61 AH (or, according to the Gregorian calendar, in A.D. 680). After the Prophet Muhammad died, there was great conflict over who would succeed Muhammad in leadership, and this is when the official split of Sunni and Shi'a Muslims began -- Shi'as believing that Muhammad's bloodline should succeed him in leadership, and Sunnis differing. (Here is the BBC's explanation.) During Ashura, it is common for Shi'a Muslims to show public expressions of grief, including self-infflicted pain, reenactment plays, and processions. The place where Ali was killed during battle, Karbala (in modern-day Iraq), has been a place of pilgrimage for Shi'a Muslims ever since. Sunni Muslims recognize that Muhammad's grandson died on this day, but some fast out of the belief that Moses fasted on this day as a way to thank God for the Israelites' liberation from Egypt. Sunni Muslims believe that Muhammad fasted on this day, too, and recommended that others do so as well. ( ReadingIslam has a great article on this.) Unlike the Ramadan fast, this fast is only recommended by Muhammad, and not required. Some Sunnis also fast to commemorate the day that Noah left the Ark. Also on Sunday Jews hold a minor fast on the 10th of the Jewish month of Tevet. The 10th of Tevet venerates the commencement of the siege that Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia placed on ancient Jerusalem, which eventually led to the destruction of Solomon's Temple (the First Temple) and Babylonia's conquest of the Kingdom of Judea. ( Chabad.org has information and a photo.) This is a minor observance so, unlike the longer fast of Yom Kippur, the 10th of Tevet fasting begins at sunrise and ends at sunset. Some observe this day as a "general kaddish day," and solemnly remember the victims of the Holocaust. As many of the Holocaust victims have unidentifiable death anniversaries, some Jews honor them on the 10th of Tevet. More on Sunday Sunday marks the Feast of the Holy Family for Catholic Christians -- a day when Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are adored together. ( ChurchYear.net offers plenty of details.) Little is known about the life of the Holy Family, and devotion to the Holy Family is a fairly recent development in Christianity. Many popes have suggested that observing this day may help Catholics prayerfully reflect on the general erosion of family structures around the world - and consider ways to strengthen their own families. St. Paul gave advice about family life in Colossians, and the Catholic Church views family life as the "domestic church," or "church in miniature." ( FishEaters , a Catholic site, has more.) Pope John Paul II also placed a special emphasis on families during his lengthy pontificate. This article was originally published at ReadTheSpirit and is reprinted with permission. Stephanie Fenton is the Seasonal Correspondent for ReadTheSpirit.com.