Our collective season of goodness and light
By: Dr. Joan Ruddiman
The beginning of Hanukkah and Christmas fall on the same day this year. Economists are rejoicing as a later Hanukkah combined with Christmas means an extended run on gift buying. But we can rejoice, too. Any time our diverse society can draw together with a moment of common celebration is good for all of us.
We watched this year as France imploded under years of forced segregation of cultures masked under the guise of political correctness. In order not to offend anyone, religious decoration, clothing and behaviors have been banned from schools and other public venues. It appears that not only are people offended, many are enraged.
This country is built on diversity. Over the centuries, we’ve worked on this whole inclusion model. In the times and places where we seem to get it right, true inclusion seems to be the key. Genuine religious and cultural tolerance lead to interactions and, therefore, understanding.
The shared holiday season is a good example of the intermingling of religions and cultural traditions that enrich us all.
Christmas, for Christians, is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Jesus, the son of God, was sent to the world as a savior literally to save the world from sin. Jesus brought light to the world; he was God’s gift to the world.
Christians, however, don’t have an exclusive on the light and gift-giving themes.
This is the season of light and gift giving for many. Jews begin lighting their candles on Dec. 25 this year. The celebration of Kwanzaa begins the next day with seven candles at the center of the tradition.
The holiday of Hanukkah was born out of a violent, sad event during the reign of Antiochus IV, the king of Syria who had conquered Judea. When the Jews refused to worship Zeus like their Greek conquerors, they were persecuted and their temple was defiled.
After a long, bitter fight, the Jews defeated Antiochus’s forces and reclaimed Jerusalem. As they cleaned and purified their temple, they found one small cruse of oil, still sealed and holy. Though it was only enough to burn the Menorah the eternal light for one day, it miraculously burned for eight. Hanukkah, which mean "dedication," is a joyous holiday the Feast of Light celebrated in remembrance of God’s miracle, a sign that He was among them.
Kwanzaa, which mean "first fruits of the harvest" in Swahili, is a cultural observance for black Americans and others of African descent created in 1966 by Ron Karenga, chairman of black studies at California State University in Long Beach. Karenga synthesized elements from many African harvest festivals to create a unique celebration that is now observed in some way by more than 5 million Americans.
Kwanzaa runs from Dec. 26 to New Year’s Day. There are seven basic elements in the Kwanzaa program, but the centerpiece is the seven-branched candleholder, which symbolizes the continent and peoples of Africa. The seven candles that are lit one each day symbolize the seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
The 25th of December is a legal holiday for everyone. Doesn’t this say something about our inclusive society? The psychologist Carl Jung might say it has more to do with our "collective unconscious." Going way back in time, this was the big blow-out holiday for Saturnalia, the pagan celebration on the shortest day of the year the longest night of the year where light and parties drove off the forces of darkness.
The English burned a Yule log that light in the darkness theme again and Christmas was celebrated with feasting and fun until the log burned out. The English knew how to have a party, filling their huge fireplaces with a log as big as a small house.
How ironic that the Puritans did NOT celebrate Christmas. They so associated the date with drunkenness and debauchery known in Europe of their time that they ignored the beautiful story of Christ’s birth as told by the Testament that they read and revered. But the Puritans missed seeing the light in a lot of ways. Sad for them.
How much healthier to embrace all that is good about this season, for whatever religious or cultural reason? We all need some light in the darkness, a moment of peace, goodwill to all, joy to the world.
So we give gifts. Everyone is giving presents! Students tell teachers how much they really do appreciate them with a small gift and card with that says "thank you" in many ways. Teachers have treats for their classes. Bosses show their appreciation for good work done throughout the year with bonuses. Gifts are left in mailboxes and for the paper delivery person, are dropped off to the hair stylist and mailed to the broker all to say "thanks for making life a little easier for me."
We are blessed people. How we share those blessings through gift- giving, expressions of thanks and kindness to others sustains the foundation of goodness that supports our blessings. If we receive much, we are should also give much.
That is the collective "we." It is important that our society celebrates this season of light and gift giving together.
Dr. Joan Ruddiman, Ed.D., is a teacher and friend of the Allentown Public Library.