MORE THAN CHRISTMAS

DECEMBER CELEBRATIONS TO CHECK OUT

by Carisa Rowe

There are two types of holiday folks: those who are thrilled about and those who are… not. There are many faiths celebrating holidays during the winter months and even some celebrations for those who don’t resonate with a particular religion. While Christmas and Chanukah are familiar to many, there are some fantastic holidays going on throughout the month of December. Whatever your faith or not-faith, introducing cannabis to holiday traditions is a surefire way to cheer up the spirits of holiday gatherings and help keep winter doldrums at bay.

Chanukah

NOV 28 – DEC 6, 2021

Beginning in November this year, Chanukah, takes place for eight days. The word “chanukah” translates into English to mean “dedication” and the holiday celebrates the faithful commitment of Jewish people to G-d in the face of oppression and genocide. This Syrian-Greek army was compelling Jews to convert to Greek ideals and destroying settlements across Jerusalem, stealing supplies, and leaving encampments and townships bereft. After Judah and Maccabee lead a small band of Jews to drive the Seleucids away, they entered the Temple to find that they had only enough oil to light the Menorah for evening worship. Miraculously, the oil lasted eight days, until new supplies could reach the region. Believing this to be the work of G-d for the faith and commitment, the sages instituted Chanukah, a festival of lights. Lighting the Menorah is a sacred act in Jewish faith and is often accompanied with blessing .

Bodhi Day

DECEMBER 8, 2021

Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday that celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha. In Buddhist history, Siddhartha Gautama had forsaken asceticism, which is the practice of avoiding pleasure, and chosen instead to sit under a Bodhi tree (peepal tree) to meditate until he understood where suffering originates and how one could liberate themself from it.

Bodhi day has many names, depending on where the Buddhists who are celebrating live. In Japan, it is known as Rōhatsu and in China, it is called Laba. Regardless of where it is being celebrated, Bodhi Day is a day of meditation, traditional meals, and reading.

Solstice

DECEMBER 21, 2021

Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and has been a day of celebration for millennia. Many winter solstice celebrations fire and light, life and death, the rising sun and the moon. Solstice celebrations include gift giving to please the sun g-d Saturnalia. Ceremonies take place at monuments like Stonehenge in England or the Goseck circle in Germany, both having strong ties to nonChristian ceremonial practices. Winter solstice is all about honoring the natural world and celebrators often build altars to evoke calmness and peace. Feasts are a common practice and feature rich, warm foods intended to carry the body through the longest night of the year. Gift exchanges incorporate natural elements and gatherings are marked by music, signing, and dance. Wreaths are a Solstice tradition and symbolize the continuing cycle of life.

Yule

DECEMBER 21, 2021 - JANUARY 1, 2022

Yule traditions are very familiar to folks who celebrate Christmas, however this twelveday, midwinter, Germanic festival pays homage to the Norse g-d Odin and the sacrificial Pagan holiday Mōdranicht, or Mother’s Night. Yule is a celebration of winter harvests and historically featured sacrifices to Odin. Each night during Yule, farmers would visit the heathen (non-Christian) temple and participate in rituals and feasts aimed to please the king of g-ds.

Festivus

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Festivus is a young holiday and perhaps the one that is the most open to interpretation. The best summation of this 45-year old holiday is “Festivus is for the rest of us” . Many of the December and winter holidays rely on faith, or general association to create a space for spirited celebration. These faith-based practices can exclude participants who may not share the faith. When a person doesn’t resonate with any particular faith but still wants to take part in winter fun, there’s Festivus. This holiday, created by Reader’s Digest writer Daniel O’Keefe, is largely a parody and aims to poke fun at the commercialization of the holidays. It was popularized by a 197 Seinfeld episode called “The Strike” . Common Festivus activities include feats of strength, the airing of grievances, a Festivus dinner, and a Festivus pole which may or may not be decorated. The holiday is punctuated by Festival dinner and is often a potluck brought by celebration attendees.

Christmas

DECEMBER 25, 2021

Christmas is probably the most familiar holiday on the list. This holiday celebrates the birth of Christian prophet and son of Gd, Jesus Christ. The holiday adopts many pagan, Wiccan, and occult rituals including Yule and Solstice practices. Trees are decorated, wreaths are common, gifts are exchanged, and prayers uttered. The holiday includes music, food, lights, and family gatherings. Festivities are accented by the introduction of Santa Claus, a benevolent gift-giver who travels the globe blessing faithful and good people with presents. Kwanzaa is also a young holiday. This secular celebration originated as a way to unite Black Americans in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion which happened in 1966. Maulana Karenga, a Black nationalist, modeled Kwanzaa after traditional African harvest feasts. There are seven principles to Kwanzaa: moja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith). There are seven symbols that are important in celebrating Kwanzaa: mazao (crops), mkeka (mat), kinara (candleholder), muhindi (corn), kikombe cha umoja (unity cup), zawadi (gifts) and mishumaa saba (seven candles). These candles are arranged on a table with three of them being red to represent struggle; three of them green, representing the land and hope for the future; and one of them Black, representing people of African descent. Homemade and educational gift exchanges are encouraged, but commercial gifts are frowned upon.

Zartosht no-diso

DECEMBER 26, 2021

Zartosht no-diso is a day of remembrance that commemorates the death of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster. The Zoroastrian faith is one the longest continuously practiced religions in human history and centers on the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster. Zoroastrians believe in a “wise god” called Ahura Mazda, who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient who cannot be conceived by the human mind. Zoroastrians attend temples and hold discussions and lectures about the life and work of their prophet. Zoroastrians focus on building three tenets of their faith during this holiday: good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. No matter how the holidays are celebrated, being connected to that which matters the most is of highest importance. Time with family and loved ones is always better with a freshly packed bowl or a delicious, infused treat. Topical creams infused with THC make spectacular gifts for almost any holiday and taking time to celebrate something new is the perfect way to uphold the spirit of the season.

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