18/12/2024
it is time for LGBTQIA+ groups from various faiths to send their greetings ahead of the holidays. LGBTQIA+ Christians, of course, are celebrating, although according to most Biblical scholars, Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in the early spring of the year 6 CE. This year, the Jewish festival of Hanukkah falls at the same time as Christmas, kicking off at sunset on 25th December. Pagans and neo pagans of course, mark a number of observances depending on their tradition. Yuletide is on Saturday 21st December and because it also marks the shortest day of the year and the turning of the seasons, it is also marked by many secular humanists. Followers of Greco-Roman religion observe a festival called Saturnalia from tonight until 26th December. Wikipedia observes that aspects of carnival and gift giving in this Roman festival may have survived through the centuries and been incorporated into modern Christmas traditions. The pagan and New Age bookstore in Glastonbury, Goddess and the Green Man, summarises this time of year particularly poetically. They say "Winter Solstice traditions are many and generous, and are shared not only with Christianity with the birthday of the Christ Child, but with many pre-Christian Pagan traditions and indeed more recent ones. It is difficult sometimes to identify their sources, but they are all very familiar in our Western culture even if we don't recognise the symbology behind them.... Will the Earth grow darker and colder as the Sun disappears into the south until only darkness is left? But at Yule a wonderful thing happens. The Sun stops its decline and for a few days it rises in about the same place. This is the crucial time, the cusp between events. The Sun stands still, and everyone waits for the turning. In our heads we know the light will return. But in the darkness of Winter, can we be sure? do our hearts believe what our heads tell us? Will the light keep its promises? We all have moments of darkness, when we don't know how much deeper we will go before the light starts to return (or even if it will). The world has moments too; it understands us, and lives as we do. The Sun does start moving north again and the light comes back. In the world, in our lives, the light comes back. "This is indeed something worth celebrating, and it has been celebrated throughout the Northern Hemisphere in remarkably similar ways."
We should also bear in mind, perhaps in our community above all others, that not everyone is full of Christmas joy and not everyone will be celebrating the festive season. This is okay too. It's alright not to socialise and to just have some quiet time on the sofa, eating ice cream and cuddling the cat. In a world of the internet and streaming music you can also find it easy to avoid the festivities on other outlets and instead indulge your hobbies and interests. Some people even drop out and stay in bed for the holiday. It isn't long and normality starts again as people look toward the New Year. So, however, you are marking the holidays, please be safe and look after yourself and each other.
