The Raven’s Retreat » Secular and religious celebrations near Christmas time

December 2, 2005

Secular and religious celebrations near Christmas time

Seeing how this is Decemeber and everyone now has the holidays on their minds, I thought I’d take this month to post some info and other thing about the holidays. This being my first post, I’ll share a bit from ReligiousTolerance.org about the holidays celebrated during this season.

Religious celebrations near Christmas time:
The month of December is a time of many religious celebrations. In alphabetic order, they include:

Some Atheists in the U.S. have begun to celebrate the Winter Solstice. This is the day of the year when the nighttime is longest, and the daytime shortest. Lately, it has been falling on DEC-21 or 22. However it can be as early as DEC-20 and as late as DEC-23. American Atheists and many local Atheist groups have organized a variety of observances at this time.
Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day (a.k.a. Rohatsu) on DEC-8, or on the Sunday immediately preceding. It recalls the day in 596 BCE, when the Buddha is believed to have achieved enlightenment and escaped the repeating cycle of reincarnation: involving birth, life, death and rebirth.
Christians in the West celebrate Christmas on DEC-25, as the day when the Yeshua of Nazareth (a.k.a. Jesus Christ) was born. He is regarded by most Christians as a deity and savior of humanity. The Eastern Orthodox churches currently celebrate Christmas on DEC-25 according to the Julian calendar, which is JAN-07 in the Gregorian calendar.
Jews celebrate Hanukkah, (a.k.a. Chanukah; “Feast of Dedication” and “Festival of Lights”). This is an 8 day observance which recalls a miracle in the Jerusalem temple during a war fought by the Maccabees in the cause of religious freedom. Between 1996 and 2008, the first day of Hanukkah fell, or will fall, between NOV-30 and DEC-26.
Muslims celebrate Id al-Fitr (a.k.a. ‘Id and Eid) on the first day of the 10th month of their lunar calendar. This is the day after the lunar month of Ramadan. It is a time of rejoicing. Houses are decorated; Muslims buy gifts for relatives. More details. The dates of Ramadan and Id al-Fitr are determined by the phases of the moon. Thus, they occur a few days earlier from one year to the next. Until recently, both were observed in December. However, in 2003, Id al-Fitr was celebrated in November.
Some Native Americans and Aboriginal groups elsewhere in the world also observe the Winter Solstice. They associate different beliefs and rituals with it. For example, the Hopi tribe celebrations are “…dedicated to giving aid and direction to the sun which is ready to ‘return’ and give strength to budding life.” Their ceremony is called Soyal. It lasts for 20 days and includes “prayerstick making, purification, rituals and a concluding rabbit hunt, feast and blessing…”
Wiccans and some other Neopagans celebrate Yule at the time of the Winter Solstice. Some may celebrate the Sabbat (one of eight days of celebration) on the evening before, at sunrise on the morning of the solstice, or at the actual time of the astronomical event.
In ancient times, Druids and followers of the Pagan and Polytheistic religious of Egypt, Greece, and Rome held celebrations at or shortly after the Winter Solstice. Some Neopagans have recreated these religions and are following them today.

Cultural celebrations near Christmas time:
The month of December also includes a number of cultural celebrations. They are:

Fesivus — a celebration for the rest of us: This is a new celebration, created in 1966 and popularized on a Seinfeld comedy episode in 1997. It seem to be growing in popularity as a simple, secular, seasonal day of celebration as an alternative to Christmas and Hanukkah. More details
Kwanza (a.k.a. Kwanzaa, Quansa) is a week-long celebration which starts on DEC-26. It is a recently developed cultural holiday celebrating African-American heritage that has been an annual tradition since 1966. “Kwanza” is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “the first fruits of the harvest”. Each day focuses on one of the seven principles of Kwanza: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
Shabe-Yalda (a.k.a. Shab-e Yaldaa) is a cultural celebration observed by followers of many religions in Iran . It originated in Zoroastrianism, the state religion which preceded Islam. The name refers to the birthday or rebirth of the sun. People gather at home around a korsee — a low square table — all night. They tell stories and read poetry. They eat watermelons, pomegranates and a special dried fruit/nut mix. Bonfires are lit outside.

Secular and religious celebrations near Christmas time

Filed under: Religion, Holiday — Ravyn @ 4:54 pm |

Comments so far:

Trackback by Valtrex and achn e.

# November 19, 2007,

Which is better valtrex famvir.

How much valtrex do you take for fever blisters. Valtrex. Which is better valtrex famvir. Valtrex prices. Buy valtrex without prescription. Dosage for valtrex oral.

Trackback by Ripped fuel without ephedra.

# November 20, 2007,

Wyoming ephedra lawyer.

Yellow swarms with ephedra. Ephedra pills. Twinlab ripped fuel with ephedra. Ephedra supplements. Ephedra.

Trackback by Percocet.

# November 26, 2007,

Percocet.

Fun with percocet. Percocet.

Trackback by Vicodin.

# November 26, 2007,

Vicodin detox vicodin.

Purchase vicodin. What is vicodin. Vicodin.

Trackback by Hartford ephedra attorneys.

# November 26, 2007,

Where to buy ephedra.

Denver ephedra attorney. Ephedra ban. Twinlab ripped fuel with ephedra. Ephedra weight loss products. Buy ephedra online. Ephedra.

Trackback by Learn how to trade forex.

# November 30, 2007,

Currency forex learn online trading.

Learn how to trade forex. Learn how to trade on forex. Learn to trade forex.

Trackback by Percocet.

# December 3, 2007,

How long is percocet in your system.

Buy percocet. Percocet sexual effects. Percocet. I quit percocet. How long is percocet in your system.

Trackback by Percocet dosages.

# December 4, 2007,

Percocet.

Percocet. Identify a percocet 93-490. Bioavailability of percocet.

Trackback by Currency calculator.

# December 5, 2007,

E-currency trading scam.

Currency converter. Currency calculator. Foreign currency. Currency conversion.

Trackback by Euro to dollar.

# December 5, 2007,

Dodge ram euro headlights.

Euro tail lights toyota tacoma 06. Euro porn. Euro link publications application papers. Euro rail pass. Euro exchange. Euro pillowtop mattresses.

Trackback by Buy hydrocodone online.

# December 6, 2007,

Hydrocodone.

Hydrocodone. Hydrocodone addiction. Hydrocodone from mexico. Buy hydrocodone without a prescription. Buy hydrocodone. What is hydrocodone.

Trackback by Currency converter.

# December 6, 2007,

Currency conversion.

British currency. Currency. Currency converter. Currency exchange. Currency trading.

Trackback by Currency act.

# December 9, 2007,

Currency converter.

Thailand currency. Currency convertor. Currency converter. Currency exchange rates. Currency conversion.

Trackback by Meridia.

# December 10, 2007,

Meridia.

Meridia message boards. Meridia. Meridia coupon. Does meridia work.

Trackback by Amoxicillin.

# December 14, 2007,

Amoxicillin order mexico mexican.

Amoxicillin. Amoxicillin clavulanic acid suspension. Amoxicillin rebate.

Trackback by Lipitor side affects.

# January 1, 2008,

Can i drink wine while i m on lipitor.

Blood counts and lipitor. Lipitor generic. Lipitor vytorin heart attack. Lipitor.

Trackback by Buy lexapro.

# January 3, 2008,

Buy lexapro.

Buy lexapro.

Trackback by Lexapro.

# January 9, 2008,

Lexapro side effects.

Alcohol and lexapro. Gain lexapro medication. Lexapro. Lexapro and side effects.

Trackback by Alternatives for lipitor.

# February 3, 2008,

Lipitor negative side effects.

Lipitor.

Trackback by Nexium.

# February 6, 2008,

Nexium.

Nexium.

Trackback by Lexapro and alcohol.

# February 20, 2008,

Lexapro.

Lexapro forum. Effects of lexapro. Lexapro.

Trackback by Lipitor.

# February 29, 2008,

Generic version of lipitor.

Lipitor.

Trackback by Wellbutrin sr.

# June 17, 2008,

Wellbutrin.

Wellbutrin xl side effects.

Trackback by Wellbutrin.

# June 17, 2008,

Wellbutrin.

Wellbutrin.

Trackback by Anxiety and wellbutrin.

# June 18, 2008,

Wellbutrin.

Wellbutrin side effects. Wellbutrin pregnancy. Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin sr. Cost of wellbutrin at sams club.

Trackback by Drug information wellbutrin.

# June 20, 2008,

Where can i purchase wellbutrin.

Anxiety and wellbutrin. Wellbutrin.

Trackback by Smoking marijuana and taking wellbutrin.

# June 20, 2008,

Wellbutrin bleeding.

Wellbutrin alcohol. Wellbutrin.

Trackback by Tarmadol.

# June 21, 2008,

Tarmadol.

Tarmadol.

Trackback by Vicodin for the soul.

# July 18, 2008,

Addiction vicodin.

Buy vicodin without a prescription.

Trackback by Payday loans online.

# July 24, 2008,

Holiday payday loans.

Payday loans. Not paying payday loans. Easy payday loans. Holiday payday loans. Easy no fax payday loans.

Trackback by Adderall without a prescription.

# July 25, 2008,

Adderall.

Adderall without a precscription. Buy adderall without a prescription. Adderall 7.5.

Trackback by Apple payday loans.

# July 26, 2008,

Payday loans.

Payday loans or advance. Payday loans. No emploment check payday loans. No fax payday loans.

Trackback by Hydrocodone.

# July 28, 2008,

Hydrocodone.

Hydrocodone. Online prescription for hydrocodone. I can t quit taking hydrocodone while pregnant.

Trackback by Vicodin hp.

# July 29, 2008,

Vicodin.

Vicodin. Long term vicodin use.

Trackback by 500 payday loans.

# August 3, 2008,

Payday installment loans.

Payday loans for bad credit. Payday loans. Guaranteed instant deposit in 1 hour payday loans. Consolidate your payday loans. Help for people in trouble with payday loans. No lender payday loans.

Trackback by Where to safely buy percocet.

# August 5, 2008,

Buy percocet online.

Buy percocet without a prescription.

Trackback by Ephedra.

# August 13, 2008,

Ephedra.

Buy ephedra. Where do i buy diet fuel containing ephedra. Ephedra yellow swarm. Original stacked ephedra. Where is ephedra legal. Ephedra. Buy ephedra online.

Trackback by Adderall no prescription.

# August 16, 2008,

Mexican pharmacies adderall.

Average adult dose of adderall xr. Snorting adderall. What is adderall. Adderall san antonio. Adderall alcohol. Adderall forums. Adderall.

Trackback by Easy payday loans no bank account required.

# August 17, 2008,

Payday loans no bank account.

Payday loans no bank account.

Trackback by Doxycycline mixing pleural.

# September 29, 2008,

Doxycycline hyc.

Doxycycline drug. Negative reaction to doxycycline. Doxycycline pleural. Doxycycline side effects. Doxycycline.