This Monday we will celebrate Christmas in the Western world. I love the aspects of Christmas that are represented in this image (artist unknown) – the sugarplum fairies and Green Man Santa which brings joy and goodies to children everywhere. To be honest, the aspects of Christmas that I love are the old Celtic traditions of the solstice – the use of holly sprigs and berries to signify eternal life as the Holly King dies and the Oak King is reborn as the Sun begins to wax again.

Long ago I did a podcast about Christmas, a deep dive into its origins and celebrations which you’ll find below. You’ll want to skip through the outdated intro to get to the good stuff.

Under a monotheistic framework there must be one true god, and as I see it this is where all the problems began. In ancient times when multiple gods were worshipped,  acceptance of one did not negate acceptance of another. Once monotheism came to dominate the social landscape, especially under Christianity, anyone who did not believe in that one true god was often persecuted. Religious conflict became intertwined with political conflict over territory and jurisdiction, and we are still dealing with the fallout today.

This year due to the death march in Israel, Christmas has apparently been canceled signifying the death of hope. Yet every day the Sun continues to rise earlier and earlier as the light returns. I leave you with this prayer and invocation and I hope your holiday week brings hope to you and those you love.

May we all find strength and resilience in the knowledge that peace, love, and goodwill have the power to overcome the shadows of war and conflict. May the coming year bring change, may conflicts find resolutions, and that a time of peace and reconciliation is near.

May individuals and nations look forward with optimism, work towards resolutions, and believe in the possibility of transformation and renewal. Just as Christmas celebrates the birth of the Christ and a new beginning for humanity, may we continue to envision and work together towards a world where peace prevails over conflict.

 

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