Reasons for the Season
There are many holidays and important dates throughout the fall and winter season that are celebrated nationwide and worldwide. But what are the reasons for these?
Thanksgiving: After settling in the Americas, colonists regularly celebrated days of thanksgiving, which were days of prayer for “blessings as safe journeys, military victories, or abundant harvests” (Britannica.com). Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a true holiday that would be celebrated on, usually, the last Thursday of November. It was sought to be an interlude during the Civil War, and was led by Sarah Joseph Hale.
Black Friday: We know Black Friday as a day of the year that allows us to save mass amounts of money on anything we buy. However, giving people good deals isn’t the only reason this “holiday” exists. It is a day that is meant to put companies “in the black”, which means that they are making profit on their sales.
Hanukkah: Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday, celebrated for 8 days from the evening of the first Thursday of December. It is a commemoration of the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, as well as the burning of candles, and is celebrated to reaffirm Judaism ideals. The eight candles symbolize that the single drop of oil in the Temple lantern burnt for eight nights.
Christmas: This is the time of year to give thanks for the love and hope we find in Jesus. It is a celebration of His birth, and when we receive gifts from loved ones, we remember that God gave us His son as a gift. It is also a Christian/Catholic holiday, so it is celebrated in churches and households as a very special day of the year.
12 Days of Christmas: The 12 days of Christmas, in Christian theology, symbolizes the span of time between the birth of Jesus Christ and the coming of the three wise men (the Magi), who followed the star of Bethlehem. It begins on December 25th and ends on January 6th each year. In Roman Catholic theology, the original 12 days of Christmas were 12 days of religious feasting, celebrated in medieval/Tudor England.
New Years: New Year’s was originally chosen as a day to honor the Roman god of beginnings, Janus, which is why we celebrate it in January. Medieval Christians attempted to replace it with more religiously significant dates, but Pope Gregory XIII of the Catholic Church created a calendar with new revisions, including the establishment of January 1st as the official date for New Year’s Day.
After all, the holiday season is a time of faith and love, so make sure to enjoy it to the fullest!
