Founded by Frederic and Mary Bussat, in 1996, Spiritual Literacy Month is a time for learning about different Religious and Spiritual practices. December is a time for celebrating holidays from several different belief systems from different cultures and what better way to do that, than by educating ourselves about them.
Describes the celebration of familiar and unfamiliar festivals of countries throughout the world, such as Christmas, Passover, Buddha's birthday, the China Star Festival, and Peru's Water-throwing Carnival.
Dec 6: Saint Nicholas Day (Christian)
St. Nicholas sold off all his possessions, gave the money to the poor, and became the inspiration for Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas's day traditions involve leaving treats for all the good children and lumps of coal for those whose behavior is not so good. https://nationaldaycalendar.com/st-nicholas-day-december-6/
Describes in text and illustrations how Christmas is celebrated in the Netherlands. Also includes stories, songs, recipes, and craft projects.
Dec. 12: Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican).
The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe: "It is believed that a man named Juan Diego encountered the Virgin Mary twice in Mexico City, on December 9 and December 12 in 1531. According to legend, Mary told Juan to ask the bishop to build a church on Tepeyac Hill. However, the bishop needed proof of Juan’s encounter and asked for a miracle. Juan returned to the hill to see roses in a spot where there were previously cacti. When Juan Diego returned, he showed the roses to the archbishop and also revealed an image on his cloak of the Lady of Guadalupe. The bishop was convinced of the miracle and built a church in honor of the event." -https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/mexico/day-of-virgin-guadalupe#:~:text=Mexico%20holidays%202020,December%209%20and%2012%2C%201531.
Dec. 13: St. Lucia Day (Swedish)
St. Lucia Day or The Festival of Lights is named for St. Lucia, the symbol of Light, who, when St Nicholas was only bringing gifts for boys, gave gifts to girls a week later. "In the early hours of the morning of December 13 a young woman, dressed in a white gown, and wearing a red sash and a crown of loganberry twigs and blazing candles, would go from one farm to the other carrying a torch to light her way, bringing saffron buns and steaming coffee on a tray, stopping to visit at each house and returning home by break of day. Every village and each family had its own Lucia – usually the youngest daughter, who would wake the family in the morning."- https://germanculture.com.ua/german-holidays/st-lucias-day/
Dec. 10-18: Hanukkah (Jewish)
Hanukkah or Chanukah is the 8 day "Festival of Lights" celebrated with the nightly lighting of the Menorah. This tradition commemorates the miracle of lights when the Jewish people fought to reclaim their land and Holy Temple from the Greeks and a single night's worth of olive oil, used to light the Menorah, lasted the whole of 8 days.
God Is in the Crowd is an original and provocative blueprint for Judaism in the twenty-first century. Presented through the lens of Tal Keinan's unusual personal story, it a sobering analysis of the threat to Jewish continuity. As the Jewish people have become concentrated in just two hubs--America and Israel--it has lost the subtle code of governance that endowed Judaism with dynamism and relevance in the age of Diaspora. This code, as Keinan explains, is derived from Francis Galton's "wisdom of crowds," in which a group's collective intelligence, memory, and even spirituality can be dramatically different from, and often stronger than, that of any individual member's. He argues that without this code, these ancient people--and the civilization that it spawned--will soon be extinct. Finally, Keinan puts forward a bold and original plan to rewrite the Jewish code, proposing a new model for Judaism and for the community in general.-- Amazon.com.
Describes the meaning and traditions of Hanukkah as five children and their families celebrate the holiday.
Dec. 17th- Dec. 23 Saturnalia (Pagan)
Saturnalia, the most popular of the Ancient Roman festivals, paid homage to the agricultural god Saturn. A time of giving and for slaves, a time to get away with behaving the way the nobles do. Homes were decorated with greenery and the Romans spent their time gambling, singing, feasting, and socializing.
Romulus, founder of Rome; Minerva, the goddess of wisdom; and beautiful spirits called nymphs are well-known subjects of Roman mythology. Roman Gods, Heroes, and Mythology explores the gods, heroes, creatures, and stories of Roman mythology, in addition to examining their influence today.
Dec 21- Jan. 1: Yule (Pagan)
a celebration of Winter Solstice marks the time when the Sun begins to last a little longer each day. A time for reflection, giving and spending time with family and friends. Yule comes with many traditions including the burning of Yule Logs, the Decorating of a Holiday Tree, decluttering, and giving. https://www.learnreligions.com/about-yule-rituals-2562970
Dec. 25: Gita Jayanti (Hindu)
"Gita Jayanti symbolizes the day when Lord Krishna gave the immortal message to Arjuna in Kurukshetra during Mahabharata. The messages of Lord Krishna have been compiled into the sacred book of Hindus, The Bhagavad Gita." -https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/gita-jayanti-1097295-2017-11-30
For several millennia, Hinduism has dominated India and cultures throughout Southeast Asia. This volume includes selections from central Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad-Gita and the Laws of Manu, as well as topics ranging from Hinduism's origins to the challenges faced by modern Hindus in India and America.
Dec. 25: Christmas Day (Christian)
"Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature." -https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas
"The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). But it was not an official Roman state festival at this time."
Everything you need for a perfect holiday! Resources, volunteering, trivia, activities, carols, games, music, traditions, etiquette, crafts, shopping guide, gift lists, history, concerts, tips, recipes.
Holly, reindeer, and colored lights: the story of the Christmas symbols by Barth, Edna. How did Santa Claus get around before he had reindeer to pull his sleigh? Why did British beekeepers put sprigs of holly on their hives? Each of our familiar Christmas symbols has an amazing story, and many go back to the first Christmas or even long before. All are celebrated in the pages of this entertaining book.
Dec. 26 Boxing Day (Australian, Canadian, English, Irish)
Boxing day, also St. Stephens Day, (Think Good King Wenceslas https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wenceslas-I-prince-of-Bohemia), is listed as having many possible origins and traditions according to different sources. Today, it's a day for food (leftover Turkey anyone?) Shopping (Sales!) and Football (Soccer).
Dec 26-Jan 1: Kwanzaa (African American)
Kwanzaa is a 7-day celebration, was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. The purpose is for African descendants to celebrate community, family, culture, and heritage. https://www.pbs.org/black-culture/connect/talk-back/what-is-kwanzaa/ "On each of the seven nights, the family gathers, and a child lights one of the candles on the kinara, or candleholder, then one of the seven principles is discussed. The principles, called the Nguzo Saba, are values of African culture that contribute to building and reinforcing community among African Americans. These values include unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, economic cooperation, purpose, creativity, and faith. An African feast, called a Karamu, is held on December 31." https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-first-kwanzaa
Celebrate Kwanzaa continues the spectacular Holidays Around the World series by focusing on this African-American holiday, which falls during the festive, gift-giving season and is celebrated by families, communities, and schools throughout America. With succinct, lively text, and beautiful photographs, the book celebrates African-American culture and helps us to understand and appreciate this special holiday.
December 29: Datta Jayanti (Hindu).
"Datta Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Hindu deity Dattatreya Datta, encompassing the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, collectively known as Trimurti. Lord Dattatreya was the son of the sage Atri and Anasuya. According to Hindu beliefs, worshipping Datta on the day of his incarnation helps devotees to lead a prosperous and happy life. Datta Jayanti is also known as Dattatreya Jayanti." -https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/datta-jayanti-2019-here-s-all-you-need-to-know-1627374-2019-12-11
Dec. 31: Omisoka (Japanese)
The New Year's Celebration in Japan, involves traditions of eating soba noodle made from buckwheat flour or udon noodle for luck, taking a bath to cleanse the body for the new year, and the ringing of bells 108 times, to "rid people of the 108 Bonnou which is all human desires and passions that disturb human's mind"
For anyone curious about the teachings of Buddha and modern Buddhist practice, Tell Me Something about Buddhism offers the perfect introduction. Written by Soto Zen priest Zenju Earthlyn Manuel and organized in an easy-to-use question and answer format, this brief book answers the many common questions people have about Buddhism, everything from who was Buddha to why do monks, nuns, and priests shave their heads. --Publisher.
Jan 6. Three Kings Day/Epiphany (Christian)
Three Kings Day is mostly celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox Christians 12 days after Christmas. Signaling the time to take down the Christmas tree, this feast of the Three Kings is celebrated in different ways around the world. -https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/epiphany.shtml
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