What I love most about December is the convergence of rites from several spiritual traditions, including the Christian, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Islamic faiths, as well as the secular observance of Kwanzaa. Each brings a singular perspective from their particular school of thought, rooted in the nature-based celebrations that preceded them. Lights, ornaments, gifts, and gatherings, its a month-long vibe with ancient origins.
Io (Hail) Saturnalia! That was the greeting for an ancient Roman mid-winter festival in honor of the god Saturn, and celebrated in December. Many modern Christmas traditions originated from Saturnalia, such as exchanging presents, decorating trees, hanging wreaths, and pic feasting.
These popular festival customs were eventually included in the story of the birth of Jesus The Christ, which most scholars place between 6 and 4 BC. This is based on the dates of King Herod’s reign, who died in 4 BC. After Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, the first formal celebration of Christmas on December 25 was in 336 AD.
Gita Jayanti celebrates the birth of the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture that forms part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. It is a 700-verse poem describing a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna. It addresses themes of duty (), righteous action, and the spiritual paths (yogas) of knowledge/jnana, devotion/bhakti, and selfless action/karma.
Christian Orthodox communities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East make up more than 12% of all Christians. Coptic Orthodox Christmas, celebrated primarily in Egypt, Ethiopia, Russia, and Serbia, falls on the same date as Orthodox Christmas, January 7. Copts precede it by 43 days of fasting in preparation, 40 days for Orthodox, and four weeks of Advent for the Christian mainstream.
Three Kings Day, or Epiphany, is a Christian holiday celebrated on January 6. It commemorates the biblical story of the three Magi or wise men who followed a star to bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Some scholars assign Persia as the place of origin for Melchior, India for Gaspar, and Ethiopia for Balthazar.
The main Jewish holiday in December, this year beginning on the 14th, is Hanukkah, an eight-day commemoration also known as the “Festival of Lights. It remembers the battle, recovery, and rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC. One key observance is lighting the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum evoking the time during the fight when a small amount of oil miraculously burned for eight days.
The main Muslim holiday in December 2025 is Laylat al-Raghaib (Night of Wishes), observed on the 22nd, and is significant as a night of prayer and reflection.
I’ve always been partial to the practice of Kwanzaa, a non-religious, non-heroic holiday based on African harvest traditions. Each night from December 26 to January 1, libation is poured, a different candle is lit, and a community-building principle, such as Unity, Self-Determination, Creativity, and Faith, is discussed. And it always means lots of family, fun, and feasting.
The planetary phenomenon of the Winter Solstice is the connective tissue across all these traditions. Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest nighttime. It falls on December 21 or 22 when the Northern hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun. But beyond the ceremonies and commercial aspects of the holidays are their more profound meanings.
The African ancients symbolized (not worshiped) the sun as the potential for us to realize our higher purpose above the need for basic survival. The manger invokes the humble, authentic place where one can strip away ego in finding the true self. The star represents the illumination of a transcendent consciousness, as in the sixth chakra (energy center) in ancient Indian traditions. Candles share a core meaning of light overcoming darkness, representing hope and spiritual illumination. The Magi stand in for spiritual seekers and the power of wisdom and knowledge, surrendering to an innocent, loving consciousness.
Picture this: all these powerful intentions are emanating from billions of people around the planet. For one month, despite our differences, we are immersed in an ocean of aspirations for the best in humanity, our love for each other, goodwill to all, and the connection to something far greater than we. Whatever you celebrate, may it be so.
“Out beyond ideas of right and wrong, there is a field. I will meet you there.”
— Jelaluddin Rumi
March On!
Isisara Bey, Artistic Director
