bits of sunshine

december day twenty

Hanukkah - Festival of Lights

in Jewish tradition, a day begins at sundown - so Hanukkah began at sundown on the eighteenth day of December this year

and a blessing - as the light is kindled, eight candles for eight nights

Hebrew:
.ברוך אתה יי, אלוהינו מלך העולם, שהחיינו, וקיימנו, והגענו לזמן הזה

Transliteration:
Baruch atah Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu la’zman hazeh.

Translation:
Praised are You, Our God, Ruler of the universe, Who has given us life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season.

Hanukkah is the celebration of Jewish liberation from the Greeks, and more so, the celebration of consecrated light brought back to the temple - the tiny bit of undefiled oil that kept a light burning in the temple for eight days until more consecrated oil could be found for the temple. 

I have known that the tradition is to light a menorah - with eight candles - over the course of eight nights. I always assumed that the tradition was to start with one candle, then light two the next night, then three, and so on . . . but, today, I was introduced to the knowledge that there are two schools of thought . . . those who follow the way of the House of Hillel light in the order I just described, starting with just a little bit of light and adding to brightness each evening. Those who follow the way of the House of Shammai light all eight the first night, then seven, then six, and so on, bringing the maximum light on the first night, and diminishing as the nights of the miracle diminish. 

This article, Tomorrow Will Be Much Better, and this one, Hillel and Shammai, are both interesting (fairly short) fleshing out of some thoughts about both traditions. The ruling rabbis in the early years of the common era decided to follow the custom of the House of Hillel, and the Jewish mystics say that after the Messiah comes, the custom of the House of Shammai should be followed. There are also Jewish people who light their menorahs as the Shammai did in order to reframe their relationship to the rules of their religion and to usher in an era of liberation. 

Celebrations of light in the darkness, traditions that weave threads from generation to generation, and some of us re-framing, re-membering, re-building, re-working what traditions to let go and what traditions to claim. 

Praise be to God, Who remains steadfast and sure, no matter what traditions we observe.

december day thirteen

St. Lucia Day

Continuing the with the theme of light in the darkness with Lucia - bearer of light.

This 400-year-old custom brings peace and joy each year on December 13th – the custom began in Sweden and is celebrated around the world by families with Swedish heritage. And, although most of my heritage is Swedish (six of my eight great-grandparents came to the United States from Sweden as young adults), my family never celebrated St. Lucia Day. I first learned about this beautiful tradition when I read Kirsten's Surprise while tucked into bed under a cozy, heavy quilt at my Grandma Eva's house. There was such magic in how I imagined Kirsten bringing coffee and St. Lucia buns to her family, candles shining in her crown of greenery, in the darkness of the early morning. 

Lucia of Syracuse, is said to have been martyred for her faith in 304 AD, when she came to the attention of the Roman authorities. She brought food to Christians hiding in Roman catacombs, lighting her way through the darkness with a crown of candles. 

December 13 was the historic Julian calendar’s shortest day, and according to Swedish folklore, the long night was dangerous, with dark spirits out in force. Staying awake, keeping a light shining, and eating food all maintained connection to the mortal world. As some of the ancient Norse traditions were replaced or combined with Christian traditions, St. Lucia - the bearer of light - was the perfect saint to commemorate during the winter solstice observances, traditions, and ceremonies. 

The night treads heavily
around yards and dwellings
In places unreached by sun,
the shadows brood
Into our dark house she comes,
bearing lighted candles,
Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.

In December, the northern hemisphere sees the shortest daylight hours, and people, all through time, have longed for the lengthening of daylight and have found ways to celebrate the light and shine the light through the darkness. This morning, I will light a candle, drink coffee, and eat some sweets - to celebrate St. Lucia Day - the festival meant to bring hope and light at this darkest time of the year. 

december day 8

light

the light of the full moon, starlight, candlelight, firelight, lamplight, sunlight

looking for the light
capturing the light
holding light
walking in the light
being light
a vessel of light
magnifying the light
the beauty of light
the power of light

light spreading across the sky, across a floor, across a face

a face shining
a smile radiating 

a ray, a spark, a sparkle, a gleam, a beam 

shining through, over, across, into

and also
maybe
one has to know darkness
before one can truly know light

the Light shines into the darkness
but the darkness does not comprehend this Light 

and yet,
darkness is what makes light so very necessary
so very beautiful

God is light
in Whom there is no darkness at all

and yet,
everything that is good has grown in the dark

the world was spoken into being
when darkness was upon the face of the deep

a seed must be placed in the darkness
to germinate and press against its shell
before tiny shoots begin to look for the light

a baby begins as love and two cells
in deep, warm darkness

God, who said, "let Us make humankind in Our image"
ordained the essence of Their whole being
to become the tiny cells of beginning
in the darkness of a young girl's womb

God would be born as an infant 
heralded on a dark night
by the shining host of heavenly beings
and a glorious star

God, who would be both in the darkness - of the womb, of birth, of the stable
and in the light bursting forth and radiating through the heavens
touching earth with blood and tears
touching earth with glorious good news

and i,
bearing witness to the light,
must also bear witness to the beauty that begins in darkness
and darkness that amplifies the light

december day seven

Pearl Harbor Day

sunshine streaming through my window
and also glinting off the beautiful fresh snow
out in the very cold air
warm, dark coffee in my cup
christmas music playing, peaceful and merry

and yet, today is the day that part of the world exploded into flames and shards of metal and waves that rocked and slammed into the shore

today is the day that demanded more of the world wake up to the destruction and darkness fighting for power and tyranny

today is the day when those who lost their lives were the catalyst for more lives to be saved

darkness tried yet again, but could not overcome the light

darkness amplified the light

and many looked for the light
fought for the light
held the light
magnified the light

so, today, we can remember

we can rejoice that some things have been made right

and we can yet hold space and wait and work for all to be made right

this season of advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before 

some darkness, certainly
we live in this world

but also some light, certainly
we live in this world

what is possible is to not see it,
to miss it,
to turn just as it brushes past you

and then you begin to grasp what it was you missed,
like moses in the cleft of the rock,
watching God's back fade into the distance

so stay
sit
linger
tarry
ponder
wait
behold
wonder

there will be enough time for running
for rushing
for worrying
for pushing

for now,
stay
wait
something is on the horizon

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thoughts on Pearl Harbor Day inspired by a co-worker who shared the poem DID YOU KNOW ME THEN  by, John Vierra, Park Ranger, USS Arizona Memorial  

and some thoughts and words about Advent inspired by a piece by Jan L. Richardson

photos - black and white photos of Pearl Harbor - from google images // color photos are mine; first - the almost-full-moon, second - the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds which was the place where a Japanese Internment Camp was run during WWII, third - some of the stone pillars that are left standing, remnants of the internment camp

december day six

Sinterklaas - St Nicholas - Day
December Tradition

St. Nicholas was a bishop who was known for his good deeds, especially for the needy and children. He often gave generously and anonymously. Nicholas was officially recognized as a saint in the 800s. 

Many countries in Europe celebrate the Feast of Sinterklaas—also known as St. Nicholas—starting on the 5th of December, the eve of the day, by sharing candies, chocolate letters, small gifts, and riddles. 

In the Netherlands, a fellow dressed as Sinterklaas would arrive by ship on December 6 and ride a white horse (or a donkey) through the towns, handing out gifts. It was the Dutch pronunciation of his name—Sinterklaas—as well as Dutch traditions that made their way to America. These led the way to the name Santa Claus and the tradition of gift-giving.

My friend G introduced me to Sinterklaas Day many, many years ago - one of these years, I will be ahead of the game and send her chocolate and riddle in time for Sinterklaas Day. 

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photos - Main Street, Miles City, MT - from my snowy drive to work today 

 

december day three

this weekend was a whole lot of ice hockey

and some rest.
yesterday afternoon i took a three-hour nap.
the sun was streaming in our hotel room window.
i laid down,
pulled up a blanket,
got my pillow just right
and fell asleep. hard.
and rested well. 

and i found this thought yesterday:

stop demanding the same strength and productivity from yourself year-round.
as the nights become longer and colder,
grant your body the rest it's so often denied. 

slow. mend. 

let this sacred darkness carry you into dreaming. 

in the dark, choose rest

(instagram: @blackliturgies)

 

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p.s. change - renewal - a tiny goodbye that means something to me 

also - this weekend, i used my old, one-shoulder bag for the last time. ben got the first one for me eleven years ago - and i have used it most days since i got it. the main zipper recently gave out (i have been nursing it along and unzipping it so carefully for the past few weeks) - and most of the fabric is soft from years of wear. i went looking on ebay and found the same one, in like-new condidtion. tonight, i switched my things from old bag to new and discarded the old one. this felt like something worth marking. so, here is the documentation - for myself. 

 

 

 

december day one

welcome, month of holidays and celebration - i plan to recognize many of these days - and look for the joy in each day this month.

welcome month of hustle and bustle - i plan to hustle and bustle a bit. but i also plan to soak in the moments and take deep breaths and do some resting.

welcome month of endings and beginnings - a year will come to an end, but we celebrate new birth and hope and joy. 

welcome month of the darkest days - we will fill you with candlelight and starlight and strings of lights. we will find comfort in the turning inward and holding close that these lights in the darkness invite. 

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welcome friends. welcome to december, here on my blog. 

in this season of celebration, deep melancholy, and great joy - go gently, love fiercely, and be wonderful. 

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love, e