Thursday Thirteen No. 12: Chrismahanuhajj--What?

Chrismahanuhajjukas is the word my young cousins invented to capture the strange December phenomenon of making this month about everything. This is the word that includes everything but says nothing and means even less. The school-age kids see that when when we try to please everyone with all the right answers all at once, we wind up with nothing.

Thinking about this the other day, I disassembled the word into its constituent parts and did some hunting around for other December holidays. This is a special month for many faiths, all of which have special days that have their own integrity and are beautiful in their own right, like Christmas. Like Christmas, they deserve to be seen for what they are. Here are a non-Christian holy days that occur in December alongside the many Christian ones:

1. Christian: Advent (December 2, 9, 16, 23)
This is the Christian time of preparation for observing the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent begins on the Sunday nearest November 30 and is the beginning of the Christian worship year. Advent is observed with the lighting of advent candles, display of wreaths, and special ceremonies. Advent also anticipates the coming again to earth of Jesus Christ. The season continues through December 24..

2. Jewish: Hanukkah (December 5 - 12)
The Jewish Festival of Lights commemorates the Maccabean recapture and rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in 165-164 b.c.e. Hanukkah is a holiday about the victory of faith and loyalty to God's commandments. Special readings and praise songs focus on liberty and freedom. The eight-candle Menorah is lighted.

3. Buddhist: Bodhi Day (December 8)
Bodhi day Buddhist celebration of the time when Prince Gautama took his place under the Bodhi tree, vowing to remain there until he attained supreme enlightenment. (more)

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10 Comments

  1. I was feeling sad about this recently... the fact that people of different faiths feel they have to assert their distaste for celebrations and holidays in which they don't participate. I think we'd all be a lot better off taking the time to learn and understand about each other rather than trying to insist that we are not to show each other what we each believe in... if that makes any sense!

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  2. I am with Terri on this. Great thought provoking 13!

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  3. I read about Bodhi Day at a Christian blogger's site in India. Fascinating! :~D

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  4. We should think less about the differences in our religions, and more about what actually unites us: faith.

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  5. Sandy, I did "Mrs. Dalloway" and "The Bluest Eye" in my Adult Education lit classes (3 classes of 50+ women who sign up semester after semester). They are both remarkable novels! :)

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  6. Beautiful thoughts. I agree that we should learn more about what others believe than provoking a disagreement.

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  7. AMEN!
    I think of a particular caucasion couple who adopted 2 african-american kids. They claim they have a "colorless family." One of the adopted kids has since spent most of his life in jail....

    they attempted to achieve balance, but destroyed essense.

    Happy Hannukah, blissful Bodhi, kinetic Kwaanza, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

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  8. Hi Sandy. I do not observe Christmas as I am not a Catholic nor from a religion which observes Xmas..obviously. :) But I love the holiday spirit and the weather. A slight chill during the night is great.

    Anyway, I hope you can check out my blog as I have a blog badge for you. :)

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  9. That's a terrific word for it though, whatever it is!

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  10. Hello, wonderful blog you have I enjoyed my visit. Those dolls are beautiful too.

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