Leaving For Another Year

[plumtreeblossom]

Last night in RiteAid they were taking down all the Christmas stuff and making a Valentines's display. I hate it when Christmas goes away. It's always been my favorite time of year, and it doesn't feel right that it all leads up to only one day. I wish it was a twelve day festival as it was in medieval times, as well as in many of its pre-Christian incarnations. At the onset of winter in temperate climates, it's human nature to crave light and warmth, and its coming also fosters the longing for a period in the year when norms are relaxed, and something can be celebrated. Hanukkah is over, too, but it does get the multi-day thing right. It is winter. I still want more winter festival.

Comments

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Most Americans don't know what Epiphany is, or Advent. I'm secular myself, but did get some Christian education from my maternal grandmother, which is why I know about them. They are nice, and they draw out the period well. Also, I read a lot about winter festival history.

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

Do they not know what Epiphany is, or do they simply know it as Three Kings' Day or Day of the Magi or something?

[ron_newman]

Being raised Jewish, I never learned about it at all. If you're mostly surrounded by other Jews when you grow up, it's quite possible to stay ignorant of most Christian (and pre-Christian pagan) traditions beyond Christmas and Easter.

[beowabbit]

I had to look up Epiphany. I had heard the term, but figured it was one of those obscure mediaeval holidays; I didn’t realize it had anything to do with the story of the Nativity, or when it occurred. (I didn’t grow up Christian, but I did grow up celebrating Christmas.)