By Judy Cools
There’s no denying that the holidays will be different this year. The coronavirus touches daily life for all of us – the way we work, the way we shop, the things we do online, instead of in person. Traditionally, winter holidays bring comfort, a touchstone to our backgrounds, a reconnect with family. This year, life has handed us a huge dose of isolation and we need new ways to connect – without travel, without danger to ourselves or others. This is the perfect time for creative ways to reach out to those near home … socially distanced, of course.
Northwest Michigan is a predominantly Christian culture, and there are many Christian denominations and schools of thought here. Most readers are well-familiar with Christmas traditions. However, even within our modest population of residents in Manistee and Mason counties, we have a wonderful diversity of additional faiths and traditions.
I wanted to explore a few of the late fall and winter season holidays that our neighbors of non-Christian faiths celebrate.
When I began this adventure, the first volunteers to contact me were wonderful Jewish women who shared a thumbnail of their faith’s winter traditions. Many non-Jews think of Hanukkah when asked about Jewish holidays. It falls near Christmas and it involves presents and family gatherings. Hanukkah however, really isn’t “Jewish Christmas” as my own elders and many others have attempted to explain to their children. Whereas Christmas is one of the major holidays celebrated in Christianity, Hanukkah is a lesser holiday within Judaism and really doesn’t have the same sort of basis as Christmas.
The story of Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian army about 2,200 years ago and marks the Jews’ rededication of the Temple that was violated by the army. The lamp oil was in short supply and they expected it would only last one night. Inexplicably, the oil lasted eight nights. The eight candles in a special candle holder called a menorah celebrate the eight nights the lamp remained lit. For more information on Hanukkah, there’s a brief article on the History Channel website: https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-should-know-about-hanukkah )
The Baha’i faith has members sprinkled throughout West Michigan as well. Baha’i is an independent, worldwide faith based on one God and one humanity. It is the second most widespread world religion, behind Christianity.
The Bahai faithful have a celebratory period called Intercalary Days in late February, when gifts are given and hospitality offered. Like Hanukkah, Intercalary Days is more a family and social holiday rather than a remembrance of a major religious anniversary. It precedes the Baha’i New Year in March, one of the major holidays of the Baha’i faith. Many Baha’is have families of different faiths, and often celebrate those holidays along with their families. (www.bahai.us )
Also, right here at home, we have followers of Paganism in its various forms. Different types of Paganism may center on one deity, on many different deities or on the “spirit of the divine” being in all things. Pagan culture teaches that nature itself is sacred. Profound spiritual meaning is placed on the natural cycles of birth, growth and death. Humans are part of nature, as are animals, trees, stones, plants and all things of the earth. Of the several sub-groups, perhaps the most commonly known is Wicca. Others refer to their beliefs as “Earth Religions.” There are differences between these groups, just as there are differences in the various forms of Christianity or Judaism.
Pagan festivals occur on the solstices and equinoxes during the year. Yule is the period beginning with the winter solstice and running for about 10 days. My friend described her Yule as follows:
“Yule is the only pagan holiday [our family] celebrates. It’s not about presents or a tree. It’s about family and taking time to just be together. To laugh, love and create memories. We do welcome the winter solstice as a thank-you to Mother Nature for the seasons change, but there is no grand celebration. I personally use the time of winter solstice to reflect on the year and find ways to be and do better in the year to come.”
While this represents all the local folks who responded to my request for help with this piece, several more religious cultures “outside the mainstream” are also happily functioning here in our communities. We have a few adherents of Eastern religions – Buddhism and Hinduism. Islam is another world religion with followers in nearly every community. Unitarian Universalists are found in most communities as well, and their congregations offer some of the most inclusive and accepting folks around.
Native American traditions are integrated with natural phenomenon, such as solstices, and are celebrated then. A “Ghost Supper” in the fall is a community meal honoring ancestors, and especially those loved ones who have passed during the previous year. Native peoples may choose to observe their cultural traditions as well as those of another organized religion.
Our area communities have held events for Kwanzaa – a celebration of African Culture which also occurs in late December. Kwanzaa was created in 1966 as a healthy focal point in response to the racial unrest in California (and across the country) during the 1960s. It is based on “Seven Principles” which include such things as unity, faith and purpose. A single principle is the main focus of each night’s celebration during the seven days of Kwanzaa. (http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/ )
There is plenty of room in this world for those whose beliefs differ from our own. Even Christian believers vary in their holiday celebrations. Seventh Day Adventists don’t observe the Christmas holiday, nor do Mennonites. The Greek Orthodox Church is Christian, but they celebrate Christmas on January 7, due to differences in the early calendars.
Calendars are another expression of diversity. Differences between solar calendars and lunar calendars explain why some holidays seem to roam around the main calendar we reference in our daily West Michigan lives. The Chinese, Jews, Muslims, and Baha’is have different calendars when New Year’s Day is other than January 1. That means multiple New Years for some – a result of blending cultures.
One thing in common is that all the local folks who stepped up to talk with me mentioned how difficult it is to observe their traditions, raise their children and live their chosen life without a local community. Natalie Ruth Joynton, a faculty member at West Shore Community College and a practicing Jew, has authored a memoir highlighting the difficulties of living outside one’s chosen culture. “Welcome to Replica Dodge” (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44424913-welcome-to-replica-dodge ) takes a look at Joynton’s world.
Here in rural northern Michigan, diversity abounds — although to some it means a kind of isolation. So, welcome the diversity in your neighborhood. Send a card, drop off some baked goods, share a campfire with another family. Reach out in friendship and I can just bet you that friendship will reach back. Build bridges, wish one another well, experience different foods and new customs.
Happy holidays, my friends, whatever you celebrate.
Judy Cools was a columnist, web designer, feature and business writer, and an editor for nearly 30 years. She lived with her husband in the woods near Ludington. Judy left this life in December 2021, but her caring, humorous words will remain on these pages indefinitely, with love and admiration.
