Winter Solstice is one of the most ancient celebrations found the world over. In fact, this traditional mid-winter celebration was usurped by early christians when their Roman masters renamed it “Christmas”. And we all witnessed it evolving into a commercialized nightmare bound up in pseudo-religious trappings.

In the early 1980′s my friends and I replaced commercialized christmas with Winter Solstice celebrations. We eat, sing, dance, hug and kiss, recount the events of the past year. make plans for the new one and wish each other well. The food is a to-die-for ethic smorgasbord. It includes vegan, ovo-lacto vegetarian foods as well as the traditional roasted dead bird.

Following that on christmas day we “pagans” become the kitchen and clean-up crew for a huge all inclusive community meal, sing-along and dance.

CJ: That’s interesting. I know a few people here who observe Winter Solstice, but it’s obviously different for us as it occurs on June 20 or 21, so it doesn’t get mixed up with religious festivities. They find it empowering and spiritually uplifting, particularly rekindling the lifestyle we used to follow centuries ago.

I remember reading John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas a few years ago. That was interesting, but I thought the message (their “rediscovering” Christmas) at the end ruined it. I’d love to see a more adult commentary but I doubt it exists. Maybe I’ll have to write it.

CJ: Thanks, Muse; I thought I’d get in early before everyone starts their Xmas posts! Some of my best friends are Jewish, so we always acknowledge Hanukkah, and they do Christmas… I think it’s important that we recognise different holidays and faiths, to pay people people the same respect they show us.

Quite a few shelters here provide homeless people with meals on Christmas day, and I know some community centres as well which do the same thing for people who are alone or are tourists and expats. I’d like to help at some stage myself; I think it’d be a nice way to spend Christmas.

Suicides increase at Christmastime in the US too. I know a few people who get seriously blue; they seem to think they have to live up to some idealized perfect Christmas which, of course, doesn’t exist.

Happy Holidays, cj!

CJ: I only heard about Global Giving a little while ago myself, but it’s great that word’s getting out. Kiva.org is another interesting site too. I forgot to mention it earlier.

Happy Holidays to you too, ella! And best wishes for the New Year.

CJ: You’re right, CV, I’ve been thinking about the darker side of the season recently as well… the suicide rate increases here also, and definitely many people become depressed when they’re alone or remembering people who have passed… it’s important that we don’t forget them or fail to recognise the signs, because isn’t that what the season is really about, being there for other people, and helping those we love?

It’s interesting how we celebrate Christmas too… my family lived in England for a few years when I was younger and the excitement there with seeing snow is something I’ll never forget. Here it’s so different… we love a warm day so we can spend it on the beach and have a barbeque, and it’d be unthinkable for a lot of us to have a roast in 33 degree heat! But the magic is still there, even though we celebrate it so differently. I’d love to see a white Christmas again, though; maybe one year I’ll manage it.

CJ: Hi Donna, thanks for stopping by. I’ll definitely be keeping gift certificates in mind for a few people as well.