In this episode, 2024 Holiday’s Rumination's . . .
Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah!
Did you know that Christmas Day this year is also the first day of Hanukkah? While watching Sunday Morning, our go-to news program, they did a segment on the fact that these two holidays will occur this year, 2024, on the same day. This is due to the different calendars used to determine the dates for each holiday: the Gregorian calendar for Christmas and the Hebrew calendar for Hanukkah.
However, living in Cuba and growing up in the States, we–as children– “adopted” Christmas as our December holiday, not because of the traditions of the local churches in our town: Cuba–Church of the Nazarene, the Christian Church, and the United Methodist Church, but because it was the dominant community tradition.
Christmas was everywhere, from decorations on the square with holiday lights to Santa Land at our local True Value Hardware store to Christmas trees sold at Day and Palins, our local IGA. Moreover, television promoted Christmas with children's programs like A Charlie Brown Christmas. Who can forget Linus and his classic oration on stage, delivering his rendition from the King James Version of the Bible: “And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Also, NORAD Tracks Santa has been sharing Santa’s whereabouts with the news media since the 1970s. But did you know that the tradition started in 1955 with a hilarious misdialed call?
So, what is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is the Jewish Festival of Lights. In Hebrew, it means "dedication." It celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC, after the Maccabees' successful rebellion against the Seleucid Empire.
Key to the story is the miracle of the oil, where enough oil for one day lasted eight days. The main tradition is lighting the menorah, a nine-branched candelabra. Traditional foods include latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), which symbolize the miracle. Common customs are playing dreidel and exchanging gifts. Hanukkah is a time of joy and reaffirming Jewish identity.
So, as you can see, there were no Catholic Churches, no Jewish Synagogues.
It wasn’t until moving to New York City in 1991 that I experienced the Catholic & Jewish traditions and their people. Since then, I’m honored to call many of my good friends Jewish and Catholic.
This raises the question: What can we learn from this year's conjunction of holidays? Consider this: the holiday spirit promotes a feeling of warmth, generosity, hope, peace, and goodwill. It can manifest in many ways, regardless of religious affiliation (I’ve listed seven).
- Acts of Kindness: During the holidays, people are more likely to volunteer their time, donate to charity, and help those in need.
- Family Gatherings: Many cherish spending time with loved ones, sharing meals, laughter, and cherished memories.
- Community Spirit: Holiday events like parades, concerts, and tree lighting foster a sense of togetherness and shared joy within a community.
- Appreciation and Gratitude: The holidays often encourage reflection on our lives' blessings, fostering a sense of gratitude and appreciation for loved ones, health, and good fortune.
- Promotes Gratitude: Focusing on our blessings cultivates an attitude of gratitude, which can increase happiness and well-being.
- Inspires Generosity: Sharing blessings can inspire others to be generous in their ways, creating a ripple effect of kindness and compassion.
- Overcomes Division: In a world that often emphasizes our differences, reminding ourselves of the shared blessings we enjoy as human beings can help bridge divides and foster a greater sense of unity.
Friends, the holiday spirit transcends any religion or belief. It embodies our shared values of kindness, compassion, and connection.
So, “God Bless Us, everyone.” - Tiny Tim.
I’m Patrick Ball. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Thanks for listening. I’ll see you in the next episode.
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