December Holidays

Bodhi Day – December 8^th

This holiday is celebrated by Buddhists which commemorates the day the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, achieved enlightenment.  The day is celebrated with chanting and meditation.  Acts of kindness to other beings predominates.

Saturnalia – December 17^th – December 23^rd

This was the ancient Roman festival held in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. This was the most popular of Roman holidays most probably because it featured a relaxation of social restrictions and featured role reversals between the class structures including slaves. As more colorful clothing replaced togas, gift giving, and feasting with excessive drinking figured prominently into this holiday.

Beiwe Festival – December 21^st

This festival was celebrated by the Saami, a Finno-Ugric people who originated in Scandinavia.   The winter solstice honored Beiwe, the sun goddess, by sacrificing a white female reindeer.  They also smeared butter onto their doorposts to provide sustenance to the goddess.

Dongzi Festival – December 21^st

This is a Chinese celebration marking the winter solstice celebrating the arrival of winter. This is a time for family celebrations, during which Tangyuan, brightly colored balls made of rice flour, are served.  This year the Dongzahi Festival occurs on Wednesday, December 21^st; but, like many other celebrations this date changes to coincide with the changing date of the winter solstice.

Pancha Ganapati – December 21^st

This is a Hindu festival honoring Lord Ganesha which occurs from December 21^st to December 25^th. The focus of this festival is upon mending past mistakes and it also offers the opportunity of new beginnings. Each day of the festival is designed to bring forth love and harmony.  On each day of the festival, children are given gifts which they place unopened in front of a special statue. On the fifth day, the children are allowed to open their presents.

  

Soyal – December 21^st

This is a ceremony performed by the Hopi and Zuni peoples whose intent is to begin the new year on the date of the winter solstice.  This ceremony marks the arrival of the “kachinas” which are believed to be benevolent spirit beings that remain with the group until the summer solstice. Children do receive gifts from adults dressed as kachinas.

Winter Solstice - December 21st 

This is an astronomical event which occurs once a year when the sun appears at noon at its lowest altitude above the horizon.  The event has had enormous significance for people around the world, from neolithic times to the present.  It is most probably the source or has greatly influenced all winter holidays celebrated by various cultures. Before food preservation was perfected, winter was often a time of severe hardship resulting in much starvation.  Solstice was typically the last day of feasting before spring began.  Livestock herds were thinned to avoid the need of having to feed them during the winter; therefore, much of the time meat was readily available.  As the event marks the reversal of the sun’s ebbing in the sky, many cultures associated this event with the birth if the new year.

Yaldaa – December 21^st

This is a Persian winter solstice tradition which  has also lost its religious significance.  It still is a popular holiday as it has become an occasion for families to reunite with feasting and staying up past midnight.  Foods served during this feast often have magical implications for those who consumed them; for instances, garlic soothes joint pain or watermelon ensures health during the upcoming summer.  

Yule – December 21^st

This was a midwinter festival practiced by many Germanic tribes. The Yule festival was absorbed into the Christmas celebration as Germanic lands became Christianized.  In addition to the familiar Yule Log, the tradition of a Christmas Ham most probably originate from the sacrifice of the Yule boar.  Christmas Caroling is also most likely descended from the Yule Festival.

Hanukkah - December 24th

This eight-day festival celebrates the re-dedication of the temple following a successful revolt by the Jews over their Seleucid conquers.   According to tradition, during the re-dedication ceremony, only a day's worth of oil for the menorah could be found, yet the holy lamp miraculously stayed lit for eight days, by which time further oil could be procured.  Because the dates for Hanukkah are set by the Hebrew calendar, the festival dates can range between late November and late December on the Gregorian calendar.

Modranniht – December 24^th

This Anglo Saxon pagan festival is also known as the Night of the Mothers.  Bede, the 7^th and 8^th century English historian, was the first to connect this festival to the Yuletide celebrations of other Germanic peoples.  It appears that this festival paid homage to the female deities in the Germanic cultures.

Christmas – December 25^th

Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and, as such, is celebrated by hundreds of millions of people around the world. Due to the worldwide popularity of this holiday, it is reasonable to conclude that it is celebrated very differently in many cultures.  In Norway, a gnome figure brings presents while in the United States, they are brought by Santa Clause.  In Spain, it is The Three Wisemen who delivered gifts.  Food plays a big part in holiday celebrations in many countries; for instance, in Bulgaria twelve meatless dishes are served.  In Sicily, twelve kinds of fish are served. While in Wales, taffy making is a Christmas tradition. 

Dies Natalis Solis Invicti - December 25th

This festival is also known as the Festival of the Birth of the Unconquered Sun.  It was the celebration day of the late Roman/early medieval sun god, Sol Invictus.  In reality, Sol Invictus was a title which allowed for the merger of several different sun gods from around the Roman Empire. This also included the Persian sun god, Mithras, whose celebration day was also December 25th.

Koleda  - December 21st 

This was a ten day long Slavic pagan celebration that began on winter solstice.  During this time, families would light fires in their hearths and worship their personal gods. Children would dress in disguises and go, door to door, singing, where they would receive treats and gifts in return.

Christmastide/The Twelve Days of Christmas – December 25th – January 6th

The twelve feast days which begin on the 25^th of December and ends before the Feast of the Epiphany on the 6^th of January, is known as Christmastide.   This commemorates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus.  In medieval England, the Twelve Day s were known as a period of continuous feasting and revelry, which also adapted customs from the Roman tradition of Saturnalia.  Role reversals is but one such example. 

Kwanzaa - 26th December - January 1st

A celebration, held in the United States, which honors the African heritage in their Africian-American culture. Each of the seven days of celebration honors one of these seven principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.

Boxing Day – December 26^th

Traditionally, Boxing Day is the day after Christmas and it was the special day on which servants, employees and tradesmen would receive presents from their employers.  The name most probably references the alms box in churches which held donations to the poor.  Today, in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is a shopping holiday similar to that of Black Friday in the United States.

Hogmanay – December 31^st

This is the Scottish New Year festival which is celebrated beginning on New Year’s Eve and lasting throughout the night until the morning of New Year’s Day. "First-footing" is the most popular custom of this Scottish celebration. This involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend’s or neighbor’s house at midnight.  The person entering gives a gift to the homeowner to ensure good luck for the coming year.  Hogmanay’s most familiar export is the song, “Auld Lang Syne.”

New Year’s Eve -  December 31^st

The last day of the year is observed by many world cultures.  It is frequently celebrated with special foods, parties, music, fireworks, and numerous other activities for young and old alike.  

Special Foods

Have you ever heard the old saying, “Life is interesting?”

Well, “life is interesting” and the old saying, “the longer we live the more interesting life becomes,” is also a truism.    Is this because we’ve seen so much happen during the time we’ve lived on this earth or perhaps it is true because of what we’ve chosen to do with the time we have lived?

Regardless, most men will agree that a good meal is one of the few things in life that made it worth living.

Before 1960, most farm families tended a garden, harvested and preserved the produce from that garden and could prepare good basic meals without the need to “go shopping.”  Various forms of meat were also raised on the farm for food: hogs, beef, chickens.  Some farmers were also able to included deer and other small game into the menu.  Also, one must never forget that chickens also produced the eggs used on the farm.

Bar B Que as was made in the Shenandoah Valley is a food stable that is easy to prepare, fast to warm up and easy to serve with coleslaw, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, or peas. 

Hamburger Bar B Que

Note:  T = tablespoon and t= teaspoon

2 lbs. hamburger

1 large or 3 small onions

14 oz. tomato catsup

1 T mustard

1or 2 T apple cider vinegar

2 to 4 T brown sugar [raw sugar also works]

 ½ cup water

1 t salt or to taste

1 t pepper or to taste

2 T butter [olive oil also works fine]

Some folk chose to add one or more of the following:

¼ t paprika

5 T Worcestershire Sauce

½ cup chopped celery

½ cup green pepper

Simmer together in a large pan the hamburger and water for 30 minutes, breaking up all large pieces.  Put the butter or olive oil into a separate large pan or skillet and let it get hot.  Add onions and stir them until they are golden brown. Then add all other ingredients including the hamburger and stir them all together.  Allow them to simmer for about 45 minutes.  This freezes well so do not hesitate to double the recipe.

Early on I also learned that the word “stressed” spelled backwards was “desserts.” 

Where to start with desserts in the Shenandoah Valley can cause enough contention to start another “war” and we most certainly do not want that; therefore, I will include a very special pie recipe that was usually served only for very special occasions, due to the exorbitant cost of raisins.  Due to the extra cost of some of the ingredients, this recipe sort of fell by the wayside.  I do hope you will try it and share this pie, which is somewhat similar to today’s pecan pie, with your family and friends during this joyous holiday season.

Raisin Pie

Ingredients [Makes 2 pies]

6 eggs

1 ½  cups brown or raw sugar [ brown box]

1 ¼ cup Karo Syrup [Blue Label] + ¼ cup white or whatever kind of Karo you have in your pantry

1 cup crushed English walnuts, black walnuts or pecans or mixed. Nuts may also be in larger pieces.

½ cup butter or Coconut Butter

1 box raisins

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

1 Tablespoon of Rum*

* [Note: Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum is often substituted for the homemade rum. The rum may also be left out, but most folk believe that alcohol does bakes out leaving only the delightful fruit flavor of the rum.]

Directions:

Cut oven on to 375 degrees

Immediately pour vanilla and rum or just the pure vanilla over raisins and stir well to moisten, let sit to add later after rest of ingredients are combined.]

Beat eggs, add syrup [Karo] into eggs, beat until fluffy

Add rest of ingredients

Pour into 2 unbaked pie crust [frozen works fine]

Bake 30 minutes in a 375 degree oven

Note: Sometimes it is better not to make a mess rather than having to clean one up, so I normally slip a cookie sheet under each and every pie I make.

Perhaps Mark Twain said it best, “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.”

Thoughts

These last few weeks have been filled with the joy and happiness that comes of a lifetime of living as our family began preparations for the forth coming holiday season. 

This year, L.W. and I were blessed by spending Thanksgiving Day with our daughter, Alesia, and her husband, Dan Talbot.  Their three children, Caleb, Nellie and Anna, were all able to be home for the holiday.  Joining them was Brian Pughe who will officially become a member of their family on May the 20^th when he and our eldest granddaughter, Nellie Talbot, are married.

Our eldest daughter, Whitney, shortly arrived from Salem with her husband, Todd Leeson, and their two children, Morgan and Jake. This year, Morgan’s friend, Alex Brown, was able to come along with her to share in our family’s celebration. 

             

It was such a blessing to be able to see the love and affection our grandchildren have for one another as they joked and shared the things going on in their own lives. You see, we no longer have toddlers or even small children in our midst.  All six of our grandchildren are now grown.

 

As we sat together and I looked around the dining room table, I could not help but recall the many small things, which seemed very trivial at the time they occurred, but which, when combined, were the building blocks of our family. 

When L.W. and I were first married, fifty plus years ago, we basically knew that we both wanted to live our lives together in the Elkton area.  We both knew that we wanted a family of our own and most importantly, we both positively knew that we wanted God as an integral part of that family.

 

During the years that followed, we were blessed with our four daughters, who like all children, were, at times, both a trial and temptation.   We both felt strongly that we could not spoil them as it was necessary for them to live in the real world.  Teaching all four girls to read and write before they entered school was largely a matter of self-preservation for me. 

As Whitney learned to read she loved sharing her new found knowledge with her sisters.  Of course, we carefully selected books that opened the doors of their minds to imagination and to things which would challenge them in the exploration of various aspects of the learning process.  To aid in this goal, art supplies were always available.

 

One time this sort of back fired on me.  Dr. Burtner, the girl’s pediatrician, carefully explained to me that Whitney simply must be made to take naps.  You see, she walked at the age of seven months and was constantly a little fireball of energy from that moment on.  My grandmother told me to leave the child alone as she was simply learning by absorbing the world around her.  But, being young and inexperienced, I did my best to listen to her doctor who was himself, the father of seven.  As instructed, I put Whitney’s crayons away and removed the toys from her room.  I carefully explained to her that it was necessary for her to stay on her bed and rest for one hour.

 Well, I am here to tell you this was the longest hour of my life as I quietly listened outside her door.  Once I thought that I had heard something moving about but as I had been instructed not to open her door until the hour was up, I ignored the minor noise in hopes that her doctor was correct and she was taking a nap.

 

Well, when I opened that door, I found my child behind it.  She just stood there beaming with both hands stuffed full of crayons. No artist could ever have been more proud of any creation.  By rolling her dresser nearer to her bed, Whitney had discovered that she could open the drawers like stair steps and that she could then climb almost to the top of the ceiling. She had quite happily colored every single wall in that room.  She had not miss a single one.  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as I picked her up and hugged her to me. 

She was absolutely delighted with her accomplishment and I, well, I was so horrified and stunned by what was possible for a child not quite one of year of age to accomplish that I, then and there, decided that my grandmother was correct and that I not only needed to, but must always keep her with me as she explored her surroundings.

Foolishly, I thought that telling her doctor that I had failed would be the most difficult part of this episode, but I was dead wrong.  You see, at that time, crayons were made of wax and pure pigment. Getting the colors off of the wall meant that I literally had to tape sheets of paper onto the wall and then iron them, section by section, in order to remove the wax before the walls could be primed and repainted.

Believe me, this time around, I made sure that Whitney Ann was not only in the room with me but that she was busy doing something constructive. She found pleasure in retelling me stories that I had read to her as she sat on the floor happily eating her freshly quartered apple.

Now, as I look around the table at her two children, I cannot help but remember the many phone calls we have shared as she recounted their many adventures.

My grandmother also said that we each should be careful as “life has a way of paying you back when you least expected it.” But perhaps Galatians 6:7 states it best when it warns us, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”