Halloween is behind us, Thanksgiving is next week, and Christmas and New Years are coming up in December. But it not just those two major holidays between now and the end of the year. There are, in fact, fourteen holidays celebrated by many religions each December. Take a look at this list and see how many of them your beliefs embrace: Dec. 6: Saint Nicholas Day — Christian This holiday honors the birth of Saint Nicholas, the saint who serves as a role model for gift-giving and is commonly known as Santa Claus, according to Interfaith Calendar. Dec. 7 to 14: Hanukkah — Judaism This is the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, which celebrates the Maccabean revolt in Egypt. Eight candles are lit with a menorah to honor the holiday. Dec. 8: Immaculate Conception — Catholic In the lead-up to Jesus’ birthday celebration on Christmas, Catholics celebrate the day of Immaculate Conception to honor his mother Mary, who they say was preserved from original sin for her entire life. Dec. 8: Rohatsu (Bodhi Day) — Buddhist This holiday celebrates the historical Buddha’s decision and vow to sit under the Bodhi tree until he reached spiritual enlightenment. It’s celebrated through meditation and is embraced similar to how Christians celebrate Christmas to honor Jesus Christ. Dec. 12: Advent Fast begins — Orthodox Christian Though Advent began this last weekend, the fasting starts midway through the month with only two weeks until Christmas. The holiday is celebrated by believers lighting Advent candles, hanging wreaths and attending church ceremonies, according to Interfaith Calendar. Dec. 12: Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe — Catholic This is a primarily Catholic holiday celebrated by Mexicans and Americans of Mexican descent that honors the reported appearance of the Virgin Mary in Mexico City, according to Interfaith Calendar. Dec. 16: Posadas Navidenas — Christian This is a primarily Hispanic Christian holiday that commends Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus, according to Interfaith Calendar. Dec. 21: Solstice — Wicca/Pagan Solstice is the point in the year when the earth is farthest away from the sun. Pagans and Wicca believers will celebrate that event through Yule, in which believers also honor “the winter-born king, symbolized by the rebirth of the sun,” according to Interfaith Calendar. Dec. 23: Mawlid el-Nabi — Islam This is an Islamic holiday that honors the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, who founded Islam. Shia and Sunni believers will celebrate on separate days by reading the prophet’s teachings, according to Interfaith Calendar. Dec. 25: Christmas — Christian Christmas is a primarily Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Many will attend church, have family parties and exchange gifts, according to Interfaith Calendar. Dec. 26: Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathustra) — Zoroastrian Unlike many of the other holidays in the month, Zoroastrians honor the death of their prophet, Zarathustra, who founded Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions. Dec. 27: Feast of the Holy Family — Catholic Catholics use this day to honor Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, according to Interfaith Calendar. Dec. 28: Holy Innocents Day — Christian Christians solemnly honor the deaths of children killed by King Herod, who was attempting to kill Jesus, according to Interfaith Calendar. Dec. 31: Watch Night — Christian For Watch Night, Christians will thank God for the safety they received during the year, according to Interfaith Calendar. (Scribner, 2021) This list gives meaning to the phrase, “Happy Holidays” doesn’t it? Saying Happy Holidays is actually MORE meaningful than just “Merry Christmas” as it includes many religious holidays worthy of note, if not celebration throughout the season. So, as we relax with friends and family over the turkey dinner next week, reflect on the month to come, the celebrations to be held, and proclaim your holiday good wishes with heart-felt “Happy Holidays!” to all! References
Scribner, H. (2021, December 9). These are the 14 Religious Holidays Believers Celebrate in December. Retrieved from East Idaho News: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2015/12/14-religious-holidays-believers-celebrate-december/
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George Burns once said, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” We’re approaching the end of another year, another trip around the sun, etc. Some of us may be experiencing symptoms of aging: spots mysteriously appearing on our hands, extra pounds around the middle, needing some help with hearing and seeing as clearly as we used to. But not all is gloom and doom as we approach yet another year added to our natal calendar. A poet, Pablo Neruda said it quite well: You start dying slowly If you do not travel, If you do not read, If you do not listen to the sounds of life, If you do not appreciate yourself. (Drapella, 2012) So, as we end the year, it’s time to start planning for our next trip around the sun. What books have you always meant to read, but just didn’t find the time? Or what books would you like to re-read? Traveling doesn’t necessarily mean visiting exotic places around the world (although that is nice) but maybe there are areas just around the corner you have never visited or experienced. As Pablo said, listen to the sounds of life. Don’t shut yourself up in your room bemoaning the fact that you can’t run as fast, jump as high, or lift as much. You can laugh as loud, sing as exuberantly, and appreciate all you have, have done, and will do. In my book, The Anti-Aging Effects of Fasting, I outline strategies to help prevent some of those aging factors mentioned earlier. There are many ways to combat the effects of aging, and fasting is one of them. Here are 10 ways fasting is good for you: 1. Fasting Helps Weight Loss 2. Fasting Improves Insulin Sensitivity 3. Fasting Speeds Up the Metabolism 4. Fasting Promotes Longevity 5. Fasting Improves Hunger 6. Fasting Improves Your Eating Patterns 7. Fasting Improves Your Brain Function 8. Fasting Improves Your Immune System 9. Fasting Contributes to Self-Enlightenment 10. Fasting Helps Clear the Skin and Prevent Acne (Pullman D. A., Eat Stop Eat, Brad Pilon Lists the Healthy Benefits of Fasting, 2019) Mindset has a lot to do with how well we are accepting the inevitability of aging. A study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found that people who had more positive self-perceptions about aging lived an average of 7.5 years longer than those who had negative beliefs about it. So, how does one go about changing their mindset? Here are some tips: 1. Control What You Can 2. Let Go of the Linear 3. Find Your Purpose 4. Stay Inspired 5. Connect with Nature 6. Live in the Now 7. Give Back 8. Nurture Relationships 9. Practice Gratitude (Brettingen, 2022) Ending the year on a high note means more than reflecting on our successes of the past year and planning on how to improve on the situations that weren’t so successful, it also means taking care of ourselves, both mentally and physically, so we can go into the new year on a positive note. References
Brettingen, P. J. (2022, August 30). How to Age Gracefully by Changing Your Mindset. Retrieved from DailyOM: https://www.dailyom.com/journal/how-to-age-gracefully-by-changing-your-mindset/ Drapella, Z. (2012, July 14). Pablo Neruda-You Start Dying Slowly. Retrieved from Sophie's World - Travelling with Passion: https://zofiadrapella.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/pablo-neruda-you-start-dying-slowly-2/ Pullman, D. A. (2019). Eat Stop Eat, Brad Pilon Lists the Healthy Benefits of Fasting. In D. A. Pullman, The Anti-Aging Effects of Fasting (pp. 14-16). Annadale, Virginia: Independently Published. |
AuthorI am a Performance Enhancement Specialist with a background in Emergency Psychiatric Medicine and Community Addiction. Archives
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