The words ‘celebration’ and ‘holiday’ catch the fancy of each of us, no matter our situation or station in life. If nothing else, the remaining days of 2022 are packed with many holiday celebrations.
A celebration which is on the rise internationally is Tea Day. The notion behind this day is to set aside coffee and colas for the day and mindfully enjoy a steeping cup of tea. While sipping let your mind wonder about the ingredients that make up your tea bag. Breath in a sense of the farmers, farm families, and the individuals who made it possible for you to taste near perfection in a cup. The better we know, understand, and connect with the people who produce our food and our drink, the healthier we will be as neighbors and connected partners in prosperity.
Christians are in the midst of their Advent season, awaiting the glory and promise of Christmas. This Sunday evening, Hanukkah begins, and Jewish families will enjoy an eight-day festival of lights and tradition. At sundown (4:47 pm, to be exact) the winter solstice begins on December 21st. Celebrating the longest day of nightfall might seem to be a bit odd. It’s the fact that from this moment forward each successive day will get a little more daylight that makes the solstice truly worthy of celebration. The day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day to some, initiates the weeklong Kwanzaa family celebration based on its seven principles.
Each of these celebrations has tenderness and hopefulness at its core. For that reason, holidays are important because they give us all something to look forward to, and a welcome break from our workaday routines. Time with family and friends can leave us relaxed and with feelings of connection and of freedom. Holidays are important for our overall mental health. They are a time for us to share our uniqueness while celebrating, not criticizing, our differences.
Please remember that a true holiday is your own to spend as you want. There’s no ‘right way’ nor a ‘wrong way’ formula on how to do a holiday. Whether you want to spend your holiday partying or quietly reading a book, the celebration is yours to determine.
These past few years have been tough on all of us. Let us resolve to anticipate the upcoming holidays with a childlike sense of wonder, blend in an extra measure of tenderness for one another, topped with a hope that our best days lie just ahead.
Celebrations Abound
