This Jewish festival of lights for eight days and nights is a "minor" holiday that has grown in stature, especially in the United States, due to its proximity to Christmas. The origins of the celebration are described in the book of Maccabees and come from a time when Israel was threatened with Greek (pagan) domination. It symbolically celebrates the continuation of Jewish thought, custom and religion over the years, despite outside influences.
After the Jewish temple was defiled by the Greeks (They set up statutes of the Greek gods and slaughtered a pig on the altar!), during its rededication, only a small quantity of oil was located for the lighting of the great candlestick. However, this oil continued to burn for eight days and nights: a miracle!
Hanukkah is a time of gift-giving, with candles on the menorah lit each successive night, until the eighth night when the candlestick is ablaze in light. Part of the many holidays of December, it fits in with the annual celebration of lights during this time of the year, as North America enters the cold dark nights of winter.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
December and Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Part of the Advent experience of December is to reflect on the circumstances of Jesus's birth. That includes his mother Mary, known as the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) or Theotokos (The God-bearer), among a variety of titles.
December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, celebrating the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother Anne. (Mary's birthday is commemorated nine months later on September 8th). This should not be confused with the concept of the virginal conception of her son Jesus, celebrated on the feast of the Annunciation on March 25th (nine months prior to Christmas). The dogma of the Immaculate Conception explains that even from the very start of her existence, Mary was the chosen vessel, pure and sinless, in which God would come to earth. Without any lengthy discourse on the concept and details of "predestination," Mary's free will was still intact, allowing her to choose to obey the message of the angel at the annunciation: "Let it be done to me according to God's will." This dogma, even though it has ancient origins, was not formally defined until 1854 by Pope Piux IX in the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus (Ineffable God). Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is patroness of the United States of America.
Two historic events that are related to this feastday are two appearance of Mary, both of which took place in France. The apparition of Mary and the establishment of the Miraculous Medal in 1830 is celebrated by the Vincentian Orders on November 27th. Saint Catherine Laboure, to whom Mary appeared, is honored on November 28th. The other visitation was to Saint Bernadette at Lourdes in 1858, where Mary identified herself as the Immaculate Conception.
Another apparition of Mary is celebrated on December 9 and December 12, when the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531 Mexico, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. St. Juan Diego's feastday is on the 9th, which was the first day of the appearances. Primary patroness of the country of Mexico, Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is patroness of the Americas (both North and South hemispheres).
The combination of these two days centered on Mary (the 8th and the 12th) serve to intensify the Advent focus on the Mother of Jesus, her pregnancy and role in the coming of the Messiah.
December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, celebrating the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother Anne. (Mary's birthday is commemorated nine months later on September 8th). This should not be confused with the concept of the virginal conception of her son Jesus, celebrated on the feast of the Annunciation on March 25th (nine months prior to Christmas). The dogma of the Immaculate Conception explains that even from the very start of her existence, Mary was the chosen vessel, pure and sinless, in which God would come to earth. Without any lengthy discourse on the concept and details of "predestination," Mary's free will was still intact, allowing her to choose to obey the message of the angel at the annunciation: "Let it be done to me according to God's will." This dogma, even though it has ancient origins, was not formally defined until 1854 by Pope Piux IX in the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus (Ineffable God). Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is patroness of the United States of America.
Two historic events that are related to this feastday are two appearance of Mary, both of which took place in France. The apparition of Mary and the establishment of the Miraculous Medal in 1830 is celebrated by the Vincentian Orders on November 27th. Saint Catherine Laboure, to whom Mary appeared, is honored on November 28th. The other visitation was to Saint Bernadette at Lourdes in 1858, where Mary identified herself as the Immaculate Conception.
Another apparition of Mary is celebrated on December 9 and December 12, when the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531 Mexico, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. St. Juan Diego's feastday is on the 9th, which was the first day of the appearances. Primary patroness of the country of Mexico, Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is patroness of the Americas (both North and South hemispheres).
The combination of these two days centered on Mary (the 8th and the 12th) serve to intensify the Advent focus on the Mother of Jesus, her pregnancy and role in the coming of the Messiah.
Friday, December 5, 2014
Saint Nicholas -December 6th
This bishop of Myra (in modern Turkey) is an very important saint in Eastern and Russian Orthodoxy and is known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker. In Germany and the Netherlands traditions regarding St. Nicholas are the inspiration or source for the American concept of Santa Claus.
Monday, December 1, 2014
December - Happy Holidays!
"Happy Holidays!" is a very appropriate greeting for the month of December, as it is a month filled with a variety of holidays, one of which is Christmas, commemorating Jesus' birth on earth in Bethlehem, Judea. Note that the evening of December 24th officially begins the Christmas season, which ends on the celebration of The Baptism of the Lord. In Orthodox Christianity, "Christmas" doesn't begin until January 6th! (The secular or popular "Christmas shopping season" is really one of preparation and corresponds in Christianity with the season of Advent.)
As you look at the word "holiday" you can see that it originates in the concept of a "holy day." In the Western tradition the original days "off from work or labor" that were given over to feasting and celebrating were religious, namely Christian holy feastdays. December is filled with such days that are Christian and Jewish and cultural in identity. Halfway through the month on the 16th, the preparation for Christmas intensifies in Filipino and Hispanic cultures with Simbang Gabi, Las Posadas, and Las Parrandas. In 2014 the Jewish eight-night celebration of Hanukkah also begins on the evening of the 16th, extending through sundown on the 24th. Every year on the 26th, African Americans celebrate their heritage and cultural values with the week of Kwanza. Many of those who are not traditionally religious or who follow a nature-based religion celebrate the Winter Solstice (December 21st).
Some narrow-minded Christians complain that the greetings of "Happy Holidays" takes away from the celebration of Christmas; that Christians should only be focused on a "Merry Christmas!" What a myopic view! A universal (or catholic) Christianity acknowledges diversity and cultural influences.(And it is just plain rude to discredit or not tolerate other religious and cultural celebrations.) There's plenty of reasons to celebrate in the month of December!
As you look at the word "holiday" you can see that it originates in the concept of a "holy day." In the Western tradition the original days "off from work or labor" that were given over to feasting and celebrating were religious, namely Christian holy feastdays. December is filled with such days that are Christian and Jewish and cultural in identity. Halfway through the month on the 16th, the preparation for Christmas intensifies in Filipino and Hispanic cultures with Simbang Gabi, Las Posadas, and Las Parrandas. In 2014 the Jewish eight-night celebration of Hanukkah also begins on the evening of the 16th, extending through sundown on the 24th. Every year on the 26th, African Americans celebrate their heritage and cultural values with the week of Kwanza. Many of those who are not traditionally religious or who follow a nature-based religion celebrate the Winter Solstice (December 21st).
Some narrow-minded Christians complain that the greetings of "Happy Holidays" takes away from the celebration of Christmas; that Christians should only be focused on a "Merry Christmas!" What a myopic view! A universal (or catholic) Christianity acknowledges diversity and cultural influences.(And it is just plain rude to discredit or not tolerate other religious and cultural celebrations.) There's plenty of reasons to celebrate in the month of December!
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