Kwanzaa Day 6 and New Year's Eve

The sixth day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah), which is creativity. I can use my creative energies to build a beautiful and vibrant home and community.

And tonight is New Year's Eve- a big night for many people. W and I will celebrate quietly at home this year.

Agenda Today:

2018 Intentions Poster

1. Journal queries
2. Kwanzaa ceremony
3. Finish my 2019 Intentions Poster
4. Make wassail
5. Wassail my apple tree
6. Make noise!

Kwanzaa Day 5

The fifth day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of nia (NEE-ah), which is purpose. Purpose allows me to dream of the best future, to look within and set personal goals that are beneficial to me, my family, and my community.

2018 resolutions

Agenda:
1. Journal queries

2. Kwanzaa ceremony

3. Make New Year's resolutions

4. Make a resolutions postcard

Kwanzaa Day 4

The fourth day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of ujamaa (oo-JAH-maah), cooperative economics- the idea that when we work together, we all profit. Cooperative economics encourages us to meet our common needs by chipping in together. Imagine a world where everyone shares their wealth (even our government) and uses our economic strengths to make the world a better place!

Agenda:
1. Journal queries
2. Kwanzaa ceremony
3. Donation pledge

Kwanzaa Day 3

The third day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of ujima (oo-JEE-mah), which is collective work and responsibility. Ujima is teamwork, working together for others and helping my neighbors.

Ujima reminds me of my obligation to my community, society, and world, and to the past, present and future. Imagine if all my actions flowed from the actions of those who came before me, and were considerate of all those who will come after me! That would be a life of great integrity and compassion!

Agenda today:
1. Journal queries
2. Kwanzaa ceremony
3. Make a recycled block sign
4. End of year work

Kwanzaa Day 2

The second day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah), which is self-determination: Thinking for myself, and deciding what I will say and what I will do with my life.

Self-determination requires me to understand who I am- personally, historically, and culturally. I need to know the history of my people and where I come from, so that I can live grounded in my past. My English, Welsh, German, Swiss, French, and Dutch (Mennonite and Quaker) ancestors have much wisdom and insight to offer me.

Agenda:
1. Journal queries
2. Kwanzaa ceremony
3. Update my intentions poster
4. Start where I am

Kwanzaa Day 1

Kwanzaa is a seven-day African-American cultural holiday- an American holiday inspired by African traditions. The word kwanza is Swahili for “first”, as in "first fruits", because in some parts of Africa this is the season for first fruits harvest festivals. Kwanzaa is a time of thanksgiving for the earth, but also a time to honor ancestors, and a time for African-Americans to celebrate their heritage and learn about African traditions and values.

In fact, values are the main theme of Kwanzaa; Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture, called the Nguzo Saba, which in Swahili means the Seven Principles. 

All of us can benefit and grow by celebrating these principles.

Agenda:
1. Journal queries
2. Kwanzaa altar
3. Kwanzaa ceremony
4. Continue the festal tide

Christmas Day

Today is Christmas, but only the first day of Christmas (what Norwegians would call 1. juledag, or "First Christmas Day"). 

This is the start of the twelve-day festal tide adopted by the Christian Church: In 567 C.E. church leaders proclaimed the days from December 25 to Epiphany as a sacred, festive season.

Now my preparations are finished, and I can relax with my family, do a puzzle, eat, drink, and generally wallow in joyful abandon. 

In some old traditions, this whole season was seen as a sort of Sabbath: Prepare ahead of time and then spend the Twelve Days doing as little work as possible. It's a good time to rest, reflect, and find peace within.

Agenda:
1. Open Gifts
2. Have a feast
3. Christmas pudding
4. Continue the Festal Tide

Christmas Eve

Tonight is Christmas Eve. In Norway, folks open gifts tonight, but we usually wait until Christmas morning. That means I have one more day to finish and wrap gifts!

Agenda Today:
1. Advent Prayers
2. Make Danish Prune Bread
3. Put Baby Jesus in the manger
4. Hang our stockings with care
5. Christmas Novena, day 9

4th Sunday of Advent

The fourth and final part of advent begins today. This is the day to take a deep breath and go back to the beginning, back to the spirit of love that brings me to this place of light and grace; back to living in the Spirit, and being Spirit. 

When I observe advent well, I find that I am now mostly prepared for Christmas- my house is fairly clean, shopping is almost finished, and the cupboards are filled with delectable food. I need to complete only a few finishing touches.

I need only to keep my focus on the Spirit of Love that guides me.

Agenda:
1. Awareness Walk
2. Deliver cookies to neighbors
3. Advent wreath ceremony
4. Plan ways to give attention to Light and Love
5. Christmas Novena, day 8

Full Cold Moon

Tonight is the Full Moon! The full moon of December is called the Cold Moon (for obvious reasons). Nature is resting now in preparation for the growing season, and so should I be. No matter how busy I feel, I can slow down, rest more, and pay better attention to the inner growing that is going on.

The turning point of solstice is past- the light born out of the darkness- but it's only the very beginning, not anything complete. I can feel my own tiny inner growing- a flicker of compassion, a butterfly of creativity, a sprout of wisdom.

Agenda today:
1. Journal queries
2. Update my altar
3. Practice at my theme of stillness
4. Mountain pose meditation
5. View the full moon
6. Christmas Novena, day 7

Winter Solstice

The winter solstice occurs this afternoon at 2:23 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the December solstice happens during the coldest season of the year, when the sun is at it’s lowest angle and is seen for it’s shortest period. This is the turning point, the moment of new beginnings- the darkest time, with the brightest hope. 

Many ancient solstice traditions are adopted and absorbed into Christmas festivities. I mark the solstice separately from- but linked to- Christmas. This is when I honor the sun, and remember that in spite of our technology, we are still dependent on the sun for life. Our world does revolve around the sun!

Agenda today:

1. Say a prayer of thanksgiving
2. Paint a plum tree calendar
3. Make Norwegian donuts
4. Christmas Novena, day 6
5. Solstice fire!

Yule and Mother's Night

Yule (Jul) is a midwinter festival that was celebrated by the indigenous Norse and Germanic peoples, and is still celebrated by pagans today. It begins on the night before the winter solstice.

Modern scholars believe that some kind of a winter solstice celebration was an important part of European traditions since at least 2400 BCE, and has been commonly recognized as Yule since before 1000 AD. 

Many of the customs associated with Christmas are borrowed from Yule rites and customs. Yule, as it is observed by neo-pagans, is the celebration of the rebirth of the Sun, and the beginning of the cycle of the year. The name Jul might mean “Wheel of Fire”.

Agenda:
1. Make little solar crosses
2. Have a bonfire and burn a yule log
3. Make a Mother's Night offering
4. Christmas Novena, day 5

Juleverksteda; A Norwegian Christmas workshop

A Juleverksted is a Norwegian tradition, where people get together to make things for Christmas. It has become a big custom for families to host a Christmas Workshop, sometimes one night each week leading up to Christmas. They invite friends and family members to work together to make handmade gifts, cards, decorations, cookies, and finish up preparations for Christmas.


Ideas:
1. Plan a Juleverksted
2. Make Norwegian gløgg
3. Make a gingerbread house
4. Christmas Novena, day 3

Family Love and Joy at Advent

My children painted these plaster houses when they were young.

During this week of Advent my theme is "family love and joy". 

Of course, the joy of the season is spontaneous and un-planable, but I do these three things to create the right conditions:

• Take the time to consider what my friends and family will want most this season. In other words, I become less self-focused and more generous in all ways. 
• Take care of myself so I can be calm and present for the spontaneous joy when it arises.
• Be respectful, patient, and kind (no matter how stressed I feel).

These are obviously year-round aspirations, but I need a strict reminder now, because, somehow, everything seems so important: I have high expectations and I feel I must get this right.

Agenda this week:

1. Journal queries
2. Check in with my family
3. Card-writing practice
4. Make simple gifts
5. Make pepperkaker (gingersnaps)
6. Christmas Novena, day 2

Third Sunday of Advent, Posada, and Novena

We have made it through the second week of advent, and now the excitement is really growing! 

Tonight is the start of Las Posadas, a nine-day Mexican celebration that begins on December 16 each year. Posadas is Spanish for "lodging", and the nine days represent the nine months of Mary's pregnancy.

Tonight is also the start of the Christmas Novena in Italy. A Novena is a Catholic ritual, a prayer repeated daily for nine days. It can take place at any time of the year, but one of the most observed is the Christmas Novena, recited or sung during the 9 days leading up to Christmas day. Las Posadas comes from that same tradition.

Agenda:
1. Journal queries
2. Listen to novenas
3. Advent wreath ceremony
4. Plan activities for family fun
5. Have a Posadas Procession
6. Sign up to help at the Warming Center
7. Set out our crèche

Advent Unity and Peace

My theme for this week of Advent is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world".

One way I love to do that is by learning about the traditions and beliefs of people throughout the world.

This week I decided to learn more about the advent customs in Norway, the land of my husband's people.

Agenda:
1- Research Norway
2- Make surkål, sweet and sour cabbage
3- Make Kremmerhus, Norwegian horns

Lussi Night and Luciadagen

Tonight is Lussi Night in Norway and in Sweden, and tomorrow is Luciadagen (pronounced LOO-sha-da-gen), or St. Lucia’s Day, or St. Lucy’s Day.

It's hard to sort out all the Lucys: We have St. Lucia, a Sicilian woman in the reign of Diocletian who became a Christian martyr. Because her name means light, she was appointed to be the patron saint for the eyes. 

We also have the older Roman goddess Lucina, also the goddess of light, and of childbirth- bringing children to light.

And in Scandinavia, we have Lussi, a female demon or witch accompanied by an entourage of gnomes and spirits called Lussiferda.

Agenda:
1. Lusse-vigil
2. Set out more candles
3. Make Lussekatt (St. Lucia buns)

Human Rights Day

Today is Human Rights Day: The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on this day in 1948. 

Today the UN kicks off a year-long campaign to mark the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We celebrate all our inalienable rights and freedoms including a right to education, a decent living, health care and a right to live free from any form of discrimination among others.

Agenda:
1. Journal queries
2. Choose next steps
4. Take the human rights pledge

Second Sunday of Advent

Today starts the second week of advent. Advent is a time of vigilant waiting; I wait for something mysterious and unscheduled, but I wait with quiet excitement, and expectation. If I fall asleep to this awareness I risk missing the moment of joy, courage, or insight; the gift of grace that has the potential to feed me in ways I need.

Agenda today:
1. Journal queries
2. Advent wreath ceremony
3. Plan activities for unity and peace

Rohatsu and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Rohatsu is Japanese for "eighth day of the twelfth month," so it always falls on December 8th. It's also known as Bodhi Day.

Today Japanese Buddhists observe the enlightenment of the Buddha. 

And today is also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (L'Immacolata Concezione), a day to honor Mary because she was conceived and born free from original sin. Spanish and Italian Christmas celebrations start today, with street fairs, bonfires, and processions. Most people attend mass today, and lights and decorations go up on the streets and in homes.

Agenda today:
1. Zazen Meditation
2. Make rice kheer
3. Put up lights
4. Honor Mary

Advent Simplicity

My theme for this first week of Advent is to "Cherish and care for the earth". My aim is to celebrate simply, and consume less, so I have a gentle impact on the planet.

The modern way of observing the winter holidays supports an increase in waste; one statistic says that Americans throw away 25% more trash– an additional 5 million tons– between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. A fun holiday season doesn't have to be a wasteful one!

Agenda Today:
1. Journal queries
2. Make fabric bags
3. Make golden pine cone decorations
4. Make sweet, salty, or spicy nuts

St. Nicholas Day and New White Moon

Today is St. Nicholas Day, and tonight is the new moon. The Chinese call the eleventh new moon the White Moon, perhaps because it brings the snow, or perhaps because it's a yin time of year. 

This season puts limits on our lives. Chinese philosophy says the winter season is a time of conservation and storage; the night, the feminine, water, and cold is dominant. We slow down, go inward, and spend more time on quiet, yin activities.

Luckily, advent is four weeks long, allowing us to grow slowly and steadily towards the light. Let yourself go inward now, at the start of advent; be like the bear in her cave, saving your strength and relishing the darkness. Don't celebrate Christmas too soon; allow yourself to experience the darkness of winter, against which it shines.

Agenda Today:
1. Advent Prayer

2. Journal queries
3. Kindness meditation
4. Make luminaries

St. Nicholas Eve

Tonight is the eve of St. Nicholas Day. Nicholas was born in Lycia, which is now part of Turkey. Legend says he was a kind and generous man, who protected the poor and did many great deeds.

In Holland St. Nicholas is called Sinter Klaas (he is the original Santa Claus). Children in Holland leave their shoes by the fireplace on this night, and in the morning they are filled with marzipan and small toys. Also, Sinter Claus often leaves larger gifts tonight or during the next day.

Agenda today:

A fox for Toys for Tots

1. Joy of Giving meditation
2. Journal queries
3. Donate to Toys for Tots
4. Make pfeffernüsse
5. Make recycled block signs
6. Fill shoes

Advent Earth Care

Exploring the Amazon, looking for birds.

My theme for this first week of Advent is to "Cherish and care for the earth". I express my unity with nature at Advent in two basic ways:

• by offering small gifts of love and attention in recognition of all I receive from the earth
• and by finding joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, eating, using, and wasting.

Agenda Today:
1. Go for longer walks
2. Study climate change
3. Work outside
4. Deck the halls
5. Make bird feeder pine cones