I want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Holiday Season, whether you follow a particular tradition or not. And speaking of tradition, this particular week gives us something to think about after the harrowing year we have experienced.
In the cultures of the pre-Christian world, the Winter Solstice, (December 21 in the Northern hemisphere) was a time of celebration and of often rather raucous festivals. After this “shortest day” of the year, the amount of daily sunlight would gradually increase. This was seen as a kind of rebirth of the life-giving sun after a period of ever-increasing darkness. Most likely, this symbolism of hope was not lost on early church leaders who decided to place Christmas where it is on the calendar as a way of replacing the older traditions.
And it seems like after such a difficult year with the pandemic, we are starting to see some genuine signs of things getting better in the coming months. So hang in there and have a wonderful week!