Nov 30 - Dec 24

Advent (Christianity)

Advent, a four-Sunday period of preparation for Christ's birth ("Advent" means "coming" or "arrival"), is a time of somber reflection and repentance before the joy of Christmas. Advent is observed most often by liturgical Christians such as Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Episcopalians (Anglicans), but in the past few years some evangelicals, disturbed by the increasing consumerism surrounding Christmas, have turned to Advent observance as a means of remembering Christ during the entire Christmas season. During Advent, churches and families will often create an Advent wreath, which contains three pink and one purple candle. A purple candle is lit on the first, second and fourth Sundays, since purple symbolizes repentance and also Christ's royalty; on the third Sunday the pink candle is lit. The use of pink is possibly symbolic of Christ being the "Rose of Sharon." For many people, the experience of lighting the pink candle symbolizes that Advent is more than half over, and that the light of Christ is overcoming the darkness of winter. Some people also place a large white "Christ candle" in the center of the wreath and do not light it until Christmas Day. The entire Advent wreath is often surrounded by greenery to symbolize the new life Christ brings into the world.

Recommended Reading: As Advent gains popularity, the number of books published on it increases each year; this season, PW received almost as many Advent books as Christmas books for review. We recommend Phyllis Tickle's What the Land Already Knows: Winter's Sacred Days, which offers 11 autobiographical essays about Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. (Loyola, Sept.) There's also Waiting in Joyful Hope: Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas 2003-2004, Year C, a pocket-sized daily devotional tied to the Roman Catholic lectionary. (Liturgical, Sept.)

December 20-27

Hanukkah (Judaism) (Begins 25 Kislev 5764)

Hanukkah commemorates the second-century victory of the greatly outnumbered Jewish Maccabees over the Seleucid dynasty in Israel, as recounted in the Book of Maccabees. Later commentary adds a more famous story related to Hanukkah: when the Jews had routed their oppressors and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem, their one-day supply of lamp oil miraculously lasted eight days. To symbolize this, Jews today light eight candles, one for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, and place them in their windows to publicly proclaim the miracle. Though a minor holiday in traditional rabbinic Judaism, Hanukkah is now an important holiday in the United States, and has come to include gift-giving, probably because of its proximity to Christmas. Traditional Hanukkah foods like potato latkes and doughnuts, which are fried in oil, remind Jews of the miracle of the oil.

Recommended Reading: In the beautiful illustrated coffee-table book The Lights of Hanukkah: A Book of Menorahs (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, Oct.), Barbara Rush explores some famous and historically significant Hanukkah menorahs.

December 22

Yule/Winter Solstice (Wicca and Neo-Paganism)

Before Christmas evolved as the most important winter holiday in the West, Yule celebrations and local festivals coalesced in the days surrounding the winter solstice on December 21. The solstice, from the Latin "sun stands still," is the shortest day in the solar calendar. The winter solstice celebrates the fact that the darkest and shortest days of the year are now behind us, and that the earth will soon be reborn with spring. Today, the ancient festival is observed by many neo-pagans as an alternative or complement to Christmas. Celebrants may burn "yule logs" (to bring more light to the winter darkness), perform Mummer plays, erect seasonal shrines and give gifts.

Recommended Reading: John Matthews's 1998 book The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas is now out in a full-color paperback edition, with stories, songs, poetry, activities, rituals and recipes to celebrate both the winter solstice and Christmas. (Quest, Oct.) Marina Stern's The Fairy Party Book: Bringing Magic into Every Celebration Throughout the Year offers suggestions for entertaining and parties during all of the festivals of the pagan calendar.

December 25

Christmas (Christianity)

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, whom Christians believe to be Christ the Messiah, in Bethlehem around the year 4 B.C.E. It has taken the coveted position as the premier holiday of the Western Christian world, replacing Easter as the most important feast day of the Christian year. Legends abound concerning the origins of many of the holiday's traditions: evergreen trees symbolize Christ's everlasting life, and lights on Christmas trees reflect the idea that Christ is the light of the world. In the United States, Christmas is distinguished by elaborate gift-giving (to commemorate the gifts that the Magi brought to the infant Jesus) and feasting. In other nations, the emphasis is not just on Christmas Day but the "12 days of Christmas" that continue through Epiphany on January 6.

Recommended Reading: In Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, Ace Collins traces the origins of holiday customs like Christmas trees, candy canes, Christmas cards and Santa Claus. (Zondervan, Oct.) Dickens's classic holiday story is refreshed in the lovely book The Annotated Christmas Carol: A Christmas Carol in Prose, with a superb introduction by Michael Patrick Hearn. (Norton, Nov. 24)