Holidays? #7

As the holiday season comes to a tipping point, you may ask yourself why? Why are traditions such as Christmas celebrated to such a magnitude. A popular belief is that the holiday is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, but this is not the case. The traditions we celebrate each year can be traced to the Saturnalia Festival. A pagan tradition beginning in early Rome. It was a week long event when the government would punish no misdoings. Also a single person was chosen to indulge themselves only to be sacrificed at the end of the week. Other popular holiday activities such as caroling began as naked people signing from door to door in the streets. And what about those sweet and crispy gingerbread cookies? Oh those are the ancestors of cookies resembling humans which would also be consumed during the holiday. But what does this have to do with Christmas or even the holidays?

As school children we are taught and told that the holidays are a time to be close with family (or if you are a college student your finals). You create drawings and poems of thanks and family love and get togethers. Yet as of recent decades the holidays seem to be a huge market scam. An intricate ploy to coax people out of their homes to spend money on gifts and trinkets for those around them. But it doesn't have to be this way. The holidays should and can be what we drew as kids in art class. Donating food to local food drives and volunteering at a shelter are just some small things that can make a huge difference.

Not only the effects of being an involved community member can be felt by those directly receiving or giving the actions of kindness but the community as a whole. I mention this because, although many including myself celebrate these holiday traditions; few would consider their actions of pagan intent. It is for this reason that humanity needs to take a step into the future, to each to help out their fellow man.

I’m not sure how i’ve come to drift so far from my topic, but what i’m getting at is whatever you hold dear to you this year cherish it. It may be the last memories you hold with that person so make them special and bright. I whomever is reading this that you have  wonderful holiday and that all your snowy nights glow bright.