Holiday Thread

[historyteach]

December brings many reasons for celebrating. There are three major holidays in December. Here's some information on all of them, and within each link, some traditional recipes, stories, decoration and things to do. Sober things to do. Have some fun sober days ahead!

Chanukah, a Jewish holiday, celebrating the first war for religious freedom when the Macabees defeated the Romans and rededicated the Temple. The 9 candle menorah, (candelabra), is the symbol of it and of the miracle of the oil.
Here's a link:
http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/
Christmas, a Christian holiday, celebrating the birth of the christ; the messiah, Jesus. The Christmas tree and Santa are symbols of it.
Here's a link:
http://www.merry-christmas.com/
Kwanza, an African American secular holiday, celebrating traditional values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. A 7 candle menorah is it's symbol.
Here's a link:
http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm

Hope you enjoy these things. Feel free to add more links that you've found important, helpful or fun. Let me know if you'd like any more information too, or give some feedback.
Most of all, enjoy the beauty of the season.
Shalom!

[Chy]

OH I like those thanks!

[historyteach]

Glad you like 'em Chy!

Anyone else taking a gander?
Who knows the 12 gifts of Christmas -- without looking them up? hehehe!!!

Shalom!

[*silenced*]

I know the 12 gifts of Christmas (from the song right?)
Its - 1 partridge in a pear tree, 2 turtle doves, 3 french hens, 4 calling birds, 5 goooold rings, 6 geese a laying, 7 swans a swimming, 8 maids a milking, 9 ladies dancing, 10 lords a leaping, 11 pipers piping, 12 drummers drumming.
Thats what comes of growing up with the English country side!
But really, I hate Christmas, what a Scrouge eh?!
Im alone this Christmas which is even more depressing! Oh well, I hope you all have fun.

[historyteach]

And she takes the prize, ladies and gentlemen!

Hmm...alone during the holidays. That's a tough one to deal with. Here's a reading that may be helpful. I got it from my good friend Ann.

Alone for the Holidays?
By Dr. Margaret Paul


Are you single, newly divorced, and without family around you? Are you dreading being alone for the holidays? Find out what you what can you do to make the holidays joyous and fulfilling rather than depressing.

Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge may loom especially large during the holidays if you are single or newly divorced and without family around you. Holidays are a time to share love, and many people end up feeling depressed when they do not have people around with whom to share love. If you are in this situation, what can you do to make the holidays joyous rather than depressing?

The key phrase here is SHARE LOVE. Too often people think in terms of getting love rather than giving and sharing their love. They don't realize that it is the act of giving their love that is so very fulfilling.

Gail had grown up very lonely in an emotionally distant family, with parents who did not freely give their love and relatives who were also cold and distant. She had married an emotionally distant man, and after 7 years of more loneliness, had decided to leave him. This was her first holiday season alone.

Gail decided that she was not going to be alone and lonely again this holiday season. She did some research on service agencies that needed volunteers and discovered a women's shelter in her area for women and their children who were hiding from physically abusive husbands. The shelter was badly in need of funds for food, which Gail didn't have. What she did have was the time to help gather food. Each day, after her job as a secretary, Gail went around to the markets in her area until she found some willing to donate Thanksgiving dinners for the mothers and their children. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, she spent her time at the shelter cooking, decorating, serving, and having Thanksgiving dinner with these brave women who had left their abusive husbands to save themselves and their children. It was the best Thanksgiving she ever had! By choosing to share her love with people who needed her, she felt filled with love.

Gail had such a fulfilling experience that she found a small part-time job in addition to her regular job so that she could afford to buy presents for the children at the shelter for Christmas. She had such fun buying presents for the children and watching their joyous little faces as they opened them on Christmas day! Gail felt anything but alone and lonely.

Gary was in a similar situation to Gail. He was single, had been an only child to parents who were no longer alive, and had no close relatives. His janitorial business did not give him much opportunity to make friends. Gary had spent many lonely holidays feeling isolated and depressed, and decided a few years ago to do something about it.

Gary loved animals. As a child, his dog had been his main connection with love. After some research, Gary discovered that there was a wonderful animal shelter within a half-hour of his home - a shelter that loved and cared for animals and didn't euthanize them. Gary started to volunteer one day a week on the weekends - cleaning, feeding, playing with puppies and kittens, helping to interview people who wanted to adopt a pet, and getting to know the other volunteers. He found that he really connected with the people who volunteered there. Many of them were loving people who were deeply devoted to caring for animals. As his friendships developed, he found he had a new sense of family centered around the shelter. Thanksgiving and Christmas were now sometimes spent with the other volunteers who did not have families, and sometimes with the families of some of the volunteers. Gary's life had become full and fulfilling. The last I heard, he was dating a woman who also volunteered at the animal shelter.

No matter what your life situation is, you can always share your love with others. Instead of feeling alone and lonely this holiday season, open your heart to giving. There are many people and animals out there who would welcome your love."

What do you think?
Let us know what you're going to do. If you can think of nothing, let us know that too. And, we'll be around too. But, put together a bit of a plan. Remember, traditions are important to our well being. And there are times we have to start new traditions. That's ok too!

Shalom!

[*silenced*]

I guess your right.
I can think of a few places I could go.
Im not really in the mood, things have happened recently.
Thanks, it might take my mind off it, I'll think about it

[historyteach]

One of the best remedies for feeling down is doing something for others.
I'm not talking about having a major depressive disorder, mind you. But, feeling blue; being down cuz things have happened that let you down or such. It will put you in a better mood, cuz it takes you out of yourself.

So, what's your plan???

Shalom!

[*silenced*]

Well, yesterday I went to the drug help clinic I go to and they are totally understaffed for Christmas so Chrissie (the person who runs the place) said I could volenteer over Christmas!
I went yesterday morning, last night and this morningIm going again tonight and tommorrow morning...ect.
Latley, I've been more than just let down and things have happened which I cant think about, because the more I think about them the worse they seem to feel and this kinda takes my mind off it.
I've met some really great people who have recovered from addiction and I met a guy last night who wants to get clean and he's had some life, Im so glad I can help him, he really needs a break.
Thanks for suggesting it, I think its really good and now Im not just sitting at home feeling bad and thinking about things I cant change.

[historyteach]

Oh, I'm so happy for you, (((silenced)))
Giving of ourselves often allows us to forget our troubles when we see the problems others have. It is then I can be grateful.
And with gratitude, I'll never again be in the debths of dispair.

Have a Merry Christmas, Silenced...

Shalom!