The Snowflake Chronicles

December 16, Spiritual Newsletter

https://www.thoughtco.com/kwanzaa-seven-principles-45162

Editor's Picks

1. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays
2. What is Christmas?
3. What a year Serengti!
4. The Reason for the Season
5. The Festival of Lights
6. What's the deal with the Menorah
7. Christmas Miracle Disguised
8.
9.

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Winter Holidays

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What are the winter holidays?

Hook

Celebrating the winter holidays is celebrating the light.

About This Newsletter

The winter holiday season is here,
It's time to celebrate our religious and cultural heritages,
It's a time of joy and a time of cheer.

Letter From the Editor

The winter holidays have arrived. Happy Holidays! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Yule! Happy Winter Solstice! Merry Christmas! Joyous Kwanzaa!

Light, the first element of creation, is the one thing that all the winter holidays have in common. Light, a necessary component for life on Earth, is a symbol of both spiritual and scientific knowledge. Without light we would not be able to detect darkness or shadow. Without light we would not be able to see colors or tell the difference in the shades of the color spectrum of visible light.

We are children of the light. During the seasons of autumn and winter, when the days grow shorter, we seek the light in all of its various forms. During the seasons of winter and spring, when the days grow longer, we celebrate the light. We walk in the sunshine. We sing praises to the symbols of light as they appear in our lives. We say prayers of thanksgiving or intone our gratitude for the light.

"Winter Holidays" 

Winter constellations twinkle
warming the frigid solstice night
with their friendly light
and decorating the midnight sky
for winter's holidays.

In a festive mood,
the year draws to an end
celebrating Hanukkah,
Winter Solstice,
Christmas,
and Kwanzaa.

Winter holiday candles light
the long cold nights
with joy,
while prayers and carols rise
expressing humanity's gratitude
for the blessings
of the passing year.

Editors Picks

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays  (E) Some say one is correct, some say the other is correct. Here is my opinion! #1047979 by Pepper

Excerpt: One of the biggest controversies this holiday season seems to be the debate over saying Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. A lot of retailers are making their way into the news over what the displays in their store say. There are supporters of both sayings on the television arguing why they think it should be said one way or another. Is there really a right way to say it?

What is Christmas?  (E) December entry for the Folklore contest #2105727 by Chris Breva

Excerpt: Each year on December 25th a huge population of the world stops to remember the birth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many ask where did the celebration of Christmas come from?

What a Year, Serengeti!  (E) A family reunion is the setting for a boy's celebration of Kwanzaa. #915902 by Walkinbird 3 Jan 1892

Excerpt: The brick house with the forest green door on Washington Ave. was usually very quiet on New Year's Day. The Grigsby family had only one nine-year old boy. His first name was Serengeti. Serengeti's mom liked to say, "You're a Thinker, Serengeti." And that is what Serengeti was doing. If you came up to his spot by the fireplace and looked at him wrapped up in blankets on the floor, you'd think he was sleeping. But then you’d see a smile was showing on his face, even before he opened his eyes that morning. He had an important presentation to prepare. Serengeti considered what he would hear people say today about living the principle of Faith.

The Reason for the Season  (13+) What's the real reason for the winter holiday season? #1048805 by Robert Waltz

Excerpt: The room is dark, the outlines of the people barely visible in the gloom. Gradually, the coughs and whispers and sighs of winter clothing fade away and all is silence, all is peace.

STATIC

The Festival of Lights  (ASR) Why do we celebrate Hanukkah? #1960639 by Mumsy

Excerpt: Back in the days of Alexander the Great, the Jewish people in the area known as Judea had relative freedom...

STATIC

What's the deal with the Menorah?  (ASR) What is the menorah for? #1960640 by Mumsy

Excerpt: The special candelabra that we use during Hanukkah is most commonly referred to simply as a Menorah. But the original menorah in the temple was a 7 branched candelabra. The one we use during Hanukkah has 9 branches, and the proper name for this special menorah is a Hanukkiah.

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Excerpt: She caressed the sparkling beads close to her heart as silent tears trickled down her cheeks. Missy sighed, “Why, why couldn’t my hopes and prayers have been answered?” As she stroked the wondrous beads, she remembered her excitement the first time she saw them in the store window glistening brighter than the twinkling Christmas lights.

Activities, Groups, and Contests

FORUM

Share Your Faith  (13+) Are you spiritual? Religious? Or not at all? Can you incorporate this into your writing? #2204562 by NaNoKit

Feedback "Spiritual Newsletter (November 20, 2019)" 

Zeke writes: It's too bad a lot of people never take this inventory. They just look for more.
Zeke

blimprider writes: My sincere thanks to you, Ms. Snow, for including American Haiku on your Spiritual Newsletter this week. That has proven a popular little forum since I set it up, and though I don't consider myself to be very spiritual in the traditional sense, it's a good fit for your readership. And don't be shy yourself; should the spark of inspiration strike you, please drop by and leave your own contribution. We'd love to hear from you!

         You're welcome. Prosperous Snow celebrating