Happy Holistic Winter Holidays
Dear Karlo,
In the shopping frenzy that has become the holidays, I seem to have misplaced my
holiday spirit. This fall’s constant stream of bad news has only made it harder
to find. Can you help me find my holiday spirit?
Torpid Tiny Tim
Dear Tim,
The snow is falling, the people are shopping, the traffic is mounting, the
stress is building. It makes you stop and wonder, “What are we celebrating,
anyway?” Quite a lot, it turns out:
We celebrate winter. Winter is nature’s dormant period, without which we
wouldn’t have the elation of Spring, the torrid passion of Summer, and the ripe
fullness of Autumn. It’s a package deal, so we might as well enjoy the delights
that winter can bring. For example, winter’s first snowflakes are among the most
delightful. I know of no more powerful meditation on the miracle of winter than
W.A. Bentley’s classic photographic study,
Snow Crystals (Dover Publications). For almost half a century, Bentley
caught and photographed thousands of snowflakes in his workshop in Jericho,
Vermont (it’s official: no two crystals are alike!). These wonders of nature are
winter’s mandalas, well worth the cold. Next time they fly in your face, give
‘em a taste.
We celebrate light, and its return. December 21st this year marks the
Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, and with it the longest night of the
year and the gradual return of light to our skies. Celebrating light and its
return is as old as civilization, and remains a major holiday on the Pagan
calendar. Pagan High Priestess Selena Fox at
www.circlesanctuary.org recommends to “Place holly, ivy, evergreen boughs,
and pine cones around your home, especially in areas where socializing takes
place. Hang a sprig of mistletoe above a major threshold and leave it there
until next Yule as a charm for good luck throughout the year. Have
family/household members join together to make or purchase an evergreen wreath.
Include holiday herbs in it and then place it on your front door to symbolize
the continuity of life and the wheel of the year.” In a similar vein, my
multi-ethnic family celebrates the Scandinavian winter holiday of St. Lucia. We
parade by candlelight through our darkened home, singing the eponymous Italian
melody with Norwegian lyrics, and celebrate the renewing grace of light. We will
also celebrate Hanukkah, the “festival of light,” which begins this year on
December 26th, by lighting our menorah, giving our blessings, and singing the
family Hanukkah song.
We celebrate birth. December 25th of course is the date we observe for
the birth of Christ. Whether or not you believe he is the son of God or whether
you see him as a rabbi, reformer, or rabble-rouser, it takes a remarkable person
to preach such radically compassionate messages as “You have heard it said, 'an
eye for an eye,’..but I tell you, love your enemy.” (Matthew 5). I believe that
if Christ were among us today, he would be appalled at the Christmas-Industrial
Complex that has profited from his nativity. This Christmas, I dare you all to
think of someone you hate, and sincerely offer him or her your good wishes. Now
if that were our holiday tradition instead of heading for the mall, wouldn’t
there be a whole lot more cheer?
We celebrate abundance, and sweet things. Here are two ways to celebrate
abundance. One is to celebrate freedom from scarcity, by taking time to relish
the true value of what we have, whether it is an abundance of health, of food,
or of community. In doing do, we might realize that what we have is just
fabulous, and that we don’t really need more of anything. This time of year,
nothing symbolizes the pleasures of abundance more than sweet things. For an
easy-to-prepare holiday sweet that is gentle on your body and on the planet, I
recommend Health Chef Alex’s vegan Coconut Date Rolls (see
www.healthychefalex.com): Take 2 cups fresh pitted dates and pulse them in a
food processor 15-20 times. Add them to a mixing bowl and stir in 1 cup
unsweetened shredded coconut. Spoon out 2 tablespoons at a time, roll into log
shapes with your hands, and serve (It will keep in an airtight container in the
fridge for up to a week).
The second way to is to celebrate our freedom from overabundance, a sweet
freedom that some Americans haven’t tasted in years. Overabundance might make
some of us feel safer, but in the long run it can leave us spiritually starved.
A great remedy for holiday overabundance is to give to those suffering from
scarcity. For example, massage therapist Theresa Ochenkoski volunteers at her
local women’s shelter as her way of giving. I recommend the website
www.justgive.org for practical ideas on how to giving to those in need, so
you too can experience the lightness of giving.
Lastly, we celebrate community. If a vision of hell is of people seated
around a plentiful banquet table, starving and miserable, with their arms locked
straight so they can’t feed themselves, then a vision of a heaven is of the same
predicament but where people’s bellies full and there is joy and laughter, for
they are feeding one another. Sharing gives communities life, and as the year
comes to a close, communities present us with opportunities to celebrate the
acts of giving and receiving. Community and sharing feature strongly in the
African-American celebration of Kwanzaa, which takes place from December 26th to
January 1st. It’s principles include Umoja or Unity, Ujima or Collective Work
and Responsibility, Ujamaa or Cooperative Economics. Why not take part in a
celebration your community is putting on this holiday season?
I don’t want to give you the impression that the end of the year has to be
non-stop gaiety. As cardiologist and integrative MD Harvey Zarren reminds us,
“Being aware of grieving is always important. Celebration is first in people’s
mind but for many, grieving takes precedence. I honor the grieving, support the
discomfort and ask people to remember what was special about those missing.” At
the same, however, “it is important to remember the celebration and importance
of joy! We need to practice the experience of celebration more!”
Well put. Bring on the Figgy Pudding!
First published in Boston Natural Awakenings magazine's December 2005 "Ask
Karlo" column.
2009 Karlo Berger. Some rights reserved. Website Design by Solid Uncoated.
Thanks to Hannah Burr, Kristin Granli, and Jim Kelly.