Holiday Season

Have you noticed how many people don't like the generic reference of "holiday" season, instead of Christmas season? As a matter of observation, I don't ever hear people complain that we don't call this Kwanzaa season or Hanukkah season, which I am grateful for – not so much because that would bother me (to each his own, you know) but I just don't want to hear more complaining.

On the theme of "Holiday Season" I thought that I would make a list of holidays that fall within a month of Christmas (or so). This truly is a holiday season:

• Thanksgiving: Nov. 27

• My Birthday: Nov. 29 (In case you haven't yet been celebrating this important event because you didn't know about it – well now you've got no more excuses. Appropriate means of celebration include giving me gifts, showering, noticing changing colors of leaves while thinking positively of me, eating leftover turkey while thinking positively of me, writing me a friendly note, sending me friendly money, being friendly to others while thinking positively of me, mentioning to others that I was born today so that they too can celebrate the birth of me, etc. We can discuss some other ways of commemorating this important day in the comments – I am open to suggestions here.)

• Advent: Nov. 30 - Dec. 24 The start of the Christmas season

• Bodhi Day: Dec. 8 - Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha experienced enlightenment (also known as Bodhi).

• Winter Solstice: Dec. 21 - midwinter

• Yule: the Germanic winter solstice festival

• Hanukkah: Dec. 21–Dec. 29 The "festival of lights" celebrates Jewish triumphs

• Christmas Eve: Dec. 24

• Christmas: Dec. 25 World's biggest festival, has varied roots

• 12 Days of Christmas: December 25 through January 6

• Kwanzaa: Dec. 26 Honoring the values of ancient African cultures

• Boxing Day: Dec. 26

• New Year's Eve: Dec. 31

• New Year's: Jan. 1

• Twelfth Night: Epiphany Eve: January 5

• Epiphany: January 6: the arrival of the Three Magi. Also called 3 Kings' Day.

• My Anniversary: Jan. 18

• Martin Luther King Day: Jan. 19

• Chinese New Year: Jan. 26 - considered the end of winter in the traditional Chinese calendar.

• Becky's Birthday: Jan. 31

• Groundhog Day: Feb. 2

Okay, I am sure that I missed a lot, so feel free to correct me in the comments. My main reason for making this post is because tomorrow is Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year, and as far as I am concerned that is one of the most important days on that list. Another one of great importance is Groundhog Day because together with the Winter Solstice this marks the (beginning of the) end of winter.

I encourage everybody everywhere to take a moment and celebrate or somehow commemorate the beginning of longer days tomorrow. I know that I will.

Sincerely,

me