About 20 women gathered at Jowonio School and via Zoom on Dec. 12 to learn more about each other\u2019s winter holidays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many thanks to our engaging, informative speakers: Carol Lipson discussed Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights; Terra Harmatuk explained the Pagan festival of Yule; Lorraine Markley shared traditions of Christmas past and present; and Sue Savion spoke about the non-religious, African American holiday of Kwanzaa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carol Lipson, Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The history of Chanukah stems from the invasion by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE.\u00a0He divided the large area he conquered into smaller kingdoms, each controlled by one of his generals or high officials.\u00a0Judaea experienced ~150 years of benign rule until the Greek rulers of the adjacent Syrian area invaded and conquered Judaea. One of these rulers in particular forbade any participation in Jewish religion and culture, and he converted the main religious site \u2014 the Jerusalem Temple \u2014 to honor the Greek god Zeus.\u00a0 In 164 BCE, a high official ordered a local Jewish priest\u00a0Matthathias\u00a0in the countryside to bow down to a Zeus altar and sacrifice a pig to Zeus.\u00a0Matthathias\u00a0refused;\u00a0 his\u00a0five sons, led by the eldest \u2014 named Judah Maccabee \u2014 fought against high odds to liberate the Jews and win back the Temple.\u00a0When they won the war, they sought to dedicate the Temple to the Jewish god, and declared an eight-day holiday.\u00a0The only problem: the temple required an eternal light, and the Greek plundering had left only enough consecrated oil for one day.\u00a0Somehow, the oil lasted for eight days until they could procure more purified oil \u2014 a miracle.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Chanukah is a relatively minor holiday, not even included in books of the Hebrew Bible, it has gained greater status because of its proximity to Christmas.\u00a0The holiday involves preparation of food cooked in oil, and now in America, there is generally an exchange of gifts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carol lit a beautiful brass\u00a0menorah;\u00a0beginning\u00a0with one candle, each of the eight nights an additional candle is added until finally the entire menorah is lit.\u00a0Often each member of the family lights their own\u00a0menorah;\u00a0the\u00a0glowing light of all the menorahs is truly magical.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n She also showed us several dreidels (special tops with Hebrew letters on the sides, signifying \u2018a great miracle happened there\u2019); during Chanukah, children and adults play a gambling game \u2014 often for gold foil-covered chocolate coins called gelt. Friends hold Chanukah parties where guests bring menorahs and light them, celebrating together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Traditionally, menorahs are placed in a front window.\u00a0In Jerusalem, in the religious areas, apartments and houses often have special indentations in the outer walls, with glass boxes for their menorahs to glow outside.\u00a0This holiday is truly a Festival of Lights<\/p>\n\n\n\n Terra<\/strong> Harmatuk, Pagan Festival of Yule<\/strong>, with a focus on eclectic Wiccan, Circle of the Rising Phoenix<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Terra brought yule candles, greenery and wreaths, a pentagram, and a sun child doll to help us visualize Yule traditions. Winter Solstice was been celebrated in various forms for 30,000 years. While there are many different Pagan traditions, Yule is celebrated on the astrologically longest night of the year as an affirmation of our connection to the Earth.\u00a0Yule celebrates the return of light to the world as the Goddess gives birth to the Sun Child.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The evergreen wreath represents the everlasting life as the never-ending wheel of the year turns through the seasons. People used to decorate forest evergreens with berries and nuts, eventually bringing them inside and lighting them with candles. The tradition of wassailing began as people poured a special drink on trees to help them grow. A Wiccan Yule log is lit with three candles representing the three aspects of the Goddess: maiden white, mother red, and crone black.\u00a0People may jump over the Yule log as they state what they most wish for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Men in the group may enact the semi-annual fight between twin brothers: the Holly King (wearing a holly wreath, who looks a bit like Santa Claus representing the darkness) and the Oak King (wearing an oak wreath representing light). At Yule, the Oak King wins, since fertility, life, and growth will return with the sunlight as the longest night passes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An altar is set up, the Elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water are welcomed, and the Goddess is welcomed. The group sits in darkness, chanting to the rhythmic beat of a drum: \u201cWaiting in the darkness, waiting for the sun, waiting all the long night\u2026\u201d The birth of the sun child is re-enacted. As the sun child is born lights are lit; members talk about their hopes and dreams for the coming year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yule is a good time to interact with family and friends and a time to look inward and reflect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lorraine Markley, the Christian holiday of Christmas with a focus on the Catholic customs of the Immaculate Conception Church<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in November and leads up to the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. Lorraine began by sharing memories of family traditions in her childhood and adulthood that infuse the Christmas holiday with magic. She remembered\u00a0the wonder of coming downstairs to a decorated Christmas tree and a visit from Santa Claus, stockings filled with sweets and an orange,\u00a0Christmas Eve dinner Italian style with the Feast of 7 fishes. Her family would visit Radio City Music Hall\u2019s Christmas show with a living Nativity set, bake cookies and honey balls together,\u00a0and gather\u00a0with family\u00a0and friends. She continued these traditions with her children including acts of kindness and good deeds\u00a0such as\u00a0gathering bikes and toys for the Christmas Bureau. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Advent is the time of preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ\u00a0and involves inner reflection\u00a0to prepare our hearts\u00a0and waiting. The Advent wreath has four candles to mark each week before Christmas\u00a0and a candle in the center. Each week at Sunday Mass, an additional candle is lit focusing on a different theme relating to the coming of Jesus Christ. Candles represent hope, peace, joy (pink), love and faith. Each week certain Bible verses are read; the 4th<\/sup>\u00a0week verses speak to the events happening to Mary and Joseph leading to the birth of Jesus in a manger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lorraine brought an Advent wreath and Torrone candy \u2014 the Italian almond and nougat candy special to Christmas \u2014 in her mom\u2019s original candy dish. She\u00a0shared a\u00a0bulletin from\u00a0the mass of that day\u00a0at the Church of the Immaculate Conception showing the giant Advent wreath with the Joy candle alight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sue Savion, Kwanzaa, which begins on December 26 and culminates on January 1.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sue taught in Syracuse City schools, and many of her students celebrate Kwanzaa.\u00a0Kwanzaa is a new\u00a0non-religious\u00a0American holiday\u00a0created by Maulana Karenga\u00a0in 1966\u00a0based on African customs and honoring\u00a0the African-American culture. About 15 million people commemorate Kwanzaa.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kwanzaa is based on a Swahili word meaning \u201cfirst\u201d based on African \u201cfirst harvest\u201d festivals.\u00a0Decorations include\u00a0a straw mat (representing tradition), ears of corn (representing children), and a candleholder with seven candles called a kinara. The kinara holds one\u00a0black candle (African\u00a0ancestors),\u00a03\u00a0red\u00a0(blood) and 3 green (land). Each of the 7 nights of Kwanzaa the family gathers, lights a candle, and talks about that day\u2019s principle.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The seven principles of Kwanzaa are: Umoja (unity),\u00a0Kujichagulia (self-determination),\u00a0Ujima\u00a0(collective responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose),\u00a0Kuumba\u00a0(creativity), and Imani (faith). Homemade gifts, often food,\u00a0clothing or beadwork, are exchanged.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a Karuma feast on the final day \u2014 often a community celebration where African garb is worn and African dance and music performed.\u00a0The\u00a0focus is on unity, cooperation, purpose, and faith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The holiday encourages participants to think about African roots and the American present.\u00a0Sue read Maya Angelo\u2019s \u201cReflections on Kwanzaa,\u201d which shares\u00a0memories or her family\u2019s Kwanzaa observances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Afterwards, there was time for final questions, which focused on specific observances, sharing of personal holiday traditions, and comments about the overlap between these holidays \u2014 all\u00a0festvals\u00a0of light.\u00a0Participants present at\u00a0Jowonio\u00a0School enjoyed snacks and chatted\u00a0after the program ended at 4:50\u00a0pm.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are grateful to those who presented, those who attended, those who brought refreshments, And those who managed the Zoom connection. It was a meeting enjoyed by all! Link to the Zoom video of this event: https:\/\/youtu.be\/W5t2_JIkEmg<\/p>\n\n\n\n NOTE: Since for many of us the heart of the season is about sharing, we collected the following items to donate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2756 Socks, hats, and winter gloves for We Rise Above the Streets<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2756 Non-perishable food items for local food banks<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2756 2022 wall calendars to donate to the VA Hospital<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2756 Empty pill bottles, cleaned and labels removed for donation overseas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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