Greetings from here in sunny Spain, (at least in my area) where a late breakfast on the sun terrace is still a December treat.  Wherever you are, I wish you the warmth of the spirit of the season!

The Holidays
I've always found it interesting that at least in the English language, "The Holidays" is understood to be that magical time of the year around Christmas.  "Around" meaning from the practical side of shopping for gifts (the wise start early) to the panic shopping on the 24th and all the parties in between. 

One never asks (at least English speakers) around Easter, "What are you doing for the holidays?".  The listener would surely wonder why you are inquiring about Christmas plans so early!

THE holidays, in German, French, Italian or Spanish etc. simply refers to holidays of any kind.  In British English, going on holiday means taking a vacation - for the American English speaker. 

In most of central Europe and depending on its subtle use, it can mean vacation, day off, or national/religious holiday as understood referring to Easter, Christmas etc.  Ask a German what is she doing for the holidays and she will most likely ask,  "Which one?" (Germany has many and long ones!)  But enough bantering about a word!

A 'Calendar' Coming Together
Occasionally, countries and cultures do come together, if not politically then on the calendar.  Interestingly, the end of the millennium year 2000 had many holidays that coincided  with each other:

Nikolaus Tag - Nicholas Day
6 Dec.(mostly Germanic as far as I know)
The Yule - Dec. 19 to 26.
Santa Lucia - (Swedish) Dec. 13 to 13 Jan.
Christmas - 24 to 26 in many Euro countries, 25th most important to English speakers
Los Tres Reyes (The Three Kings) - (Spanish) Jan. 6

Variable holidays because of unique calendars:

Hanukah - Judaism (Feast of Lights) Dec. 22 to 29
Ramadan - Islam (Month of Fasting) Nov. 28 to Dec. 26
Eid-al-Fitr - Islam (Celebration for the end of Ramadan) Dec. 27

This, not intending to be an all encompassing article about all the world wide "holidays", but a listing of the ones that come to my Euro mind at the moment. 

Reflecting back over the list, I find it ironic that in some years (i.e. 2000) Christian, Jewish and Muslim holidays of Christmas, Hanukah, and the last day of Ramadan, all harmoniously coincide (on the calendar at least).  I cannot resist the wistful pan-cultural wish of Peace on Earth...not just a Christian notion, by the way. 

Common Roots
What a pity that politics, overzealous fanaticism on all sides, and cultural/social beliefs get in the way. 

What a pity that the essence of the original writings and early beliefs of all three of these religions - had guidelines for tolerance (certainly in early Christianity and Islam)...that they are interrelated whether that fact is desirable or not

...that the blood of one flows in the veins of the other, from pagans of the time who converted to Judaism or later to Christianity (started by a Jew, remember?),  or to Islam, the youngest of the three and a composite of the two beliefs

...and that at one time they surely came from the same source that eventually branched off to the different families, then different tribes...and on and on. 

Let us not forget that conversions and intermarriage is not unique to our times. 

History proves that politics and power always seem to get in the way.  But there wander before me my personal observations and I digress.

Reality Check-Christianity's Pagan Connections
Whether the 25th of December is in reality Jesus' actual birth date  or not is for many irrelevant.  It was in 354 AD that Pope Gregory named the 25th as the nativity date and in this way continued the  church's practice of incorporating into Christianity pagan beliefs rather than repressing them.  This was of course continued in later Church splits into the various subdivisions such as Protestant beliefs.

This was the time of the year that pagans celebrated the winter solstice and the coming of Spring. Coinciding with this was the Roman Saturnalia on Dec. 19 which lasted for 7 riotous days to honour the god of harvest, Saturn.

(cont. p. 2)

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©Patricia Conant - All worldwide rights reserved. 

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