Deep peace of the
running waves to you.
Deep peace of the
flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the
quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the
shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the
Sun of Peace to you.
- Advent: four weeks prior to Christmas.
- Saint Nicholas' Day: 6 December
- Bodhi Day: 8 December - Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Guatama) experienced enlightenment (also known as Bodhi).
- Saint Lucy's Day: 13 December - Church Feast Day. Saint Lucy comes as a young woman with lights and sweets.
- Winter Solstice: 21 December-22 December - midwinter
- Soyal: 21 December - Zuni and Hopi
- Yalda: 21 December - The turning point, Winter Solstice. As the longest night of the year and the beginning of the lengthening of days, Shabe Yaldā or Shabe Chelle is an Iranian festival celebrating the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil. Shabe yalda means 'birthday eve.' According to Persian mythology, Mithra was born at dawn on the 22nd of December to a virgin mother. He symbolizes light, truth, goodness, strength, and friendship. Herodotus reports that this was the most important holiday of the year for contemporary Persians. In modern times Persians celebrate Yalda by staying up late or all night, a practice known as Shab Chera meaning 'night gazing'. Fruits and nuts are eaten, especially pomegranates and watermelons, whose red color invokes the crimson hues of dawn and symbolize Mithra.
- Mōdraniht: or Mothers' Night, the Saxon winter solstice festival.
- Saturnalia: the Roman winter solstice festival
- Pancha Ganapati: Five-day festival in honor of Lord Ganesha. December 21–25.
- Christmas Eve: 24 December
- Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Day of the birth of the Unconquered Sun): late Roman Empire - 25 December
- Christmas: 25 December
- Twelve Days of Christmas: 25 December through 6 January
- Yule: Pagan winter festival that was celebrated by the historical Germanic people from late December to early January.
- Anastasia of Sirmium Feast Day: 25 December
- Malkh: 25 December
- Boxing Day: 26 December - Gift-giving day after Christmas.
- Kwanzaa: 26 December - 1 January - Pan-African festival celebrated in North America
- Saint Stephen's Day: 26 December
- Saint John the Evangelist's Day: 27 December
- Holy Innocents' Day: 28 December
- Saint Sylvester's Day: 31 December
- Watch Night: 31 December
- New Year's Eve: 31 December - Last day of the Gregorian year
- Hogmanay: Night of 31 December - Before dawn of 1 January - Scottish New Year's Eve celebration
Thank you for this - my first visit to your blog, which I found most enjoyable. Lovely photo of sea and sky...
ReplyDeleteVery diverse and inspirational! I especially like the Persian connection. Here are a couple of other queer mid-winter festivals to consider:
ReplyDeleteDec. 29: David and Jonathan, the feast day of King David is a time to honor the love between David and Jonathan
Dec. 31: Bridge of Light, New Year’s festival celebrating LGBT culture
I know that you’re aware of Bridge of Light because I’m visiting your blog now while checking the links so I can give you proper credit for the beautiful prayer you wrote for the occasion. Happy New Year!