An occasional guest column by Andrea Thompson McCall
Even before the turkey leftovers were gone, tinsel and mistletoe began appearing and the traditional shopping rush marked the beginning of the season we euphemistically refer to as the Holiday Season.
At this point in our well-intentioned journey toward cultural and religious pluralism, many experience the month of December as a long un-Christmas celebration during which many of us spend, eat and drink more than we should and try to avoid saying the word “Christmas” out loud for fear of consternation in a community more diverse than we really understand.
In the spirit of real celebration of the rich religious and cultural diversity in our midst, and with the understanding that this is an imperfect step in an incomplete journey, I offer once again a primer of seven important religious and cultural holidays observed not only around the world but by members of the USM community at this time of the year.
From October 27th to November 25th, the Islamic world observed the Holy Month of Ramadan, honoring the revelation of the Koran to the Prophet Mohammed. Many Muslims observe Ramadan by fasting each day from first light to sundown, and by greater attention to personal devotion and acts of charity. Ramadan is concluded at the sighting of the new moon with a great feast, the Eid al-Fitr.
On November 11th, the Baha’i Faith celebrated the Birth in 1817 of of Baha’u’la, the prophet and founder of the Baha’i faith, honored as a “Light of God.” The day is marked with a celebration of music and feasting.
December 8th is the Buddhist celebration of Bodhi Day, recalling the day Prince Gautama began the meditation that led to his enlightenment, and celebrated with candles and fireworks.
At sunset on December 20th, Judaism begins the eight-day Hanukkah festival of lights, commemorating the rededication of the Temple after its recapture by Judas the Maccabee in 165 B.C.E. Many Jews observe Hanukkah with the lighting of a candle each night until all of the eight candles of the Menorah are lighted, and with traditional foods, games and songs.
The Winter Solstice comes on December 21st, and is observed by Pagan and other traditions as the sun’s progressively lower position in the sky halts (“Solstice” means, literally, “sun standing still”) and then reverses, to begin the return of light and the progression toward spring.
Christmas, contrary to popular and largely commercial notions, is not a single day, but a festival of 12 days (thus, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”) beginning on December 25th and ending with the Epiphany celebration on January 6th (“Twelfth Night.”) Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus, proclaimed as “Christ” (meaning, “anointed one.”) Many Christians also observe Advent, a four-week period of spiritual preparation leading up to Christmas, which began this year on Sunday, November 30th.
Recent years have seen the growth in observance of Kwanzaa, (meaning “First Fruits of the Harvest,”) a contemporary celebration of African-American values and traditions marked by seven days of candle lighting and feasting beginning on December 26th.
An observant reader will have noticed the theme of light that runs through all of these observances, symbolic of goodness, truth, justice, peace. Each of these traditions lifts up the light of these values in its own language, customs and beliefs, and each is to be celebrated. Here at USM, a relatively new tradition is the “Ceremony of Light” honoring each of these traditions, with informational and festive (and food!) elements from each tradition. This year, it’s integrated into Holiday Festivals on each campus – December 10th at 12 noon in Portland, and December 11th at 6 PM in Gorham. Meanwhile, an old tradition of Southworth Planetarium, the holiday program “Season of Light,” is being made available by special arrangement on [days] at [times] free of charge to students, faculty and staff. (Thanks to Edward Gleason and Gerry LaSala of Southworth!)
This season offers opportunities for each of us, from our own spiritual and cultural perspective, to reflect on the meaning of light in the darkness, peace in the struggle, and the growing diversity in our nation, state, and community. There are students and others at USM for whom each of the celebrations mentioned here is central to this season, and each is to be honored and celebrated without imposing Christmas on all. For this Christian, there is no sense of loss or restriction, but instead a richly festive, though admittedly not exclusively Christmas-y, time. I hope we will all find ways to know one another’s beloved traditions, not only in December, but all year long, and greet one another with wishes for a season – and a world – that brings us nearer to every soul’s longing for fulfillment and for peace.
Andrea Thompson McCall is Interfaith Chaplain and Assistant Dean of Student Life.