Holy Days

OK, to start with let me just say: they’re all holy.

Every unique, magnificent, rare and extraordinary day of your life, whether you sleepwalk through it or not, is a holy day. Because there are only so many of them, and then you are gone forever.

So try to keep it in mind: every day is a holy day.

But a special day, what we usually call a holiday–a Sabbath–whether invented or traditional, is a moment when we step out of routine into ritual: whether it’s convening a meal with loved ones at Harvest or erecting a decorated evergreen at Yule or lighting candles for Hanukkah.

We have now entered a time, the season surrounding the Winter Solstice, when people throughout the world have created special days to celebrate. Some of them are old traditions, and some new; some are sober and serious, and some fun and silly, and some a little of both.

And, in the spirit of eating life with both hands, I encourage you to celebrate as many of them as you possibly can.

We’ve already had Wolfenoot, which was created by a 7-year-old and that is all the reason you need to adopt it. No hate, only snootboops!

Soon comes Krampusnacht, December 5, in which demon anti-Santas dragging chains whip bad little boys and girls and pop them in a sack to haul them away.

Seriously.

The Winter Solstice goes without saying. The Darkest, Longest Night, the Birth of the New Sun!

And then there is Festivus, which is silly but we love it in our house. Erect that aluminum pole and air your grievances!

And that gets us to New Years, which, frankly, I do not consider the beginning of the year (that would be the Solstice), but it’s certainly a time that many observe and celebrate with rituals like champagne toasts and countdowns to midnight.

And just when things are starting to be gray and grim following all the festivities of December, there is SLOGG.

There are many more holy-days of many traditions at this time of year. Those I list here are those I celebrate, but you may find others as well.

A flurry–no, a blizzard–of special days is before us.

I encourage partaking of as many of them, and as much celebration and happiness, as your month can possibly bear.

Image: Winter solstice at Stonehenge