In ancient times,
with the start of winter’s dark days, primitive peoples
concerned that the sun might never return, developed rituals
to banish their fears. When the sun reaches its lowest point
in the sky, marking the shortest day of the year, it is
known as the start of the winter solstice, and it officially
arrived on Dec. 21.
In Greek mythology, the sun
god was Helois who, every day drove his chariot across the
skies, causing the sun to rise up from the sea in the morning,
hang in midheaven at noon and then descend once more into
the sea in the evening.
Astrology, the study of how
events on Earth may be influenced or interpreted by the
positions and movements of the sun, moon, planets and stars,
originated in Mesopotamia some 4,000 years ago.
Differing forms of astrology developed
in India and China. Chinese astrology is based on a 60-year
cycle and a lunar calendar. The signs change every year
and are named after animals. This year, which starts in
February, will be the Year of the Rooster.
Astrology is still very popular today
with many celebrities basing their activities on their astrological
reading for that day. For the rest of us, there are astrological
columns like Jacqueline Bigar’s "Your Stars,"
which whether taken seriously or not, millions of people
read.
We still like to chase away the darkness
at this time of year with candles at the window, twinkling
displays of lights around our homes and touches of brilliant
red, the traditional Christmas color, in our wardrobes and
when decorating our rooms.
There are holiday gatherings: Christmas
music, yearly rituals like the "Nutcracker" ballet
and Dickens’ "Christmas Carol," performed
by everyone from professionals at the Hartford Stage to
the local high school group … all Christmas traditions
surrounding our celebration of the birth of Christ, but
also meant to brighten our spirits, to face the winter to
come. The Jewish Festival of Lights known as Hanukkah, which
celebrates the purification of the Temple in 165 BC, also
occurs in December.
Once Christmas is over, however, winter
holidays rapidly go downhill. Oh yes, I know that New Year’s
is still to come but what self-respecting senior still really
celebrates that one? I’m lucky if I can stay awake
in my p.j.’s long enough to watch the ball drop in
Times Square … nevermind drinking and partying till
the wee hours.
That’s for the under 30 group
who wouldn’t have to spend a week in bed to recover.
Somewhere in, say mid-February, we
really need another super holiday. Now, they have even combined
Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays into one, President’s
Day, which somehow has become just another "rush to
get a bargain" day, and as I’ve expressed before
in this column, shopping for me, is no longer a fun activity.
We really need to put on our thinking
caps and come up with a super-duper February celebration
to get us through the remainder of winter. (Ideas and suggestions,
welcomed). In concluding, I’d like to share a poem
written by a member of the New Haven Unitarian congregation.
It is, I think, a beautiful post-Christmas thought to carry
throughout the coming year.
When the song of the angels is stilled
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their
flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers and sisters,
To make music in the heart.
Have a safe and sane New Year.
Jean Cherni
is founder of Senior Living Solutions, a retirement advisory
service. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or
15 The Ponds, Branford 06405. H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
