{"id":5206,"date":"2004-12-21T13:59:22","date_gmt":"2004-12-21T17:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2004\/12\/21\/come-on-back-sun\/"},"modified":"2012-12-18T09:29:06","modified_gmt":"2012-12-18T14:29:06","slug":"come-on-back-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2004\/12\/21\/come-on-back-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"come on back, sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

The Solstice Cynics<\/em> won’t keep me from enjoying the concept of <\/span>an <\/span><\/span>entire people <\/span><\/p>\n

awaiting the return of the sun and celebrating its light, renewal, and <\/span>hope — <\/span>[e.g., <\/em>Chas. <\/span><\/p>\n

Krauthammer<\/span><\/a>] Similarly, I won’t let all those who are irked by Generic <\/span><\/span><\/span>Holiday Greetings <\/span><\/p>\n

[e.g., Ken <\/span>Lammers<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Prof. B.<\/span><\/a>] keep me from wanting all Americans <\/span>to <\/span>celebrate this Season <\/span><\/p>\n

without feeling religiously incorrect, compromised or left out. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"sunset This weblog has <\/span>never<\/span><\/a> been reluctant to poke fun at <\/span>extremes<\/span><\/a> of politically <\/span><\/p>\n

correct <\/span>language. But, attempts to make this Holiday Season — clearly the most important<\/span><\/p>\n

celebration for our nation — all-inclusive do not seem silly to me, regardless of the <\/span><\/p>\n

Constitutional dimensions of the debate. Indeed, shopping sprees and Santa suits <\/span><\/p>\n

have done far more to <\/span>“take <\/span>the Christ out <\/span>of Christmas” than a slew of First Amendment <\/span><\/p>\n

law suits could ever do.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\n

A whisp of white smoke:<\/span><\/p>\n

Out of a widow’s chimney<\/span><\/p>\n

Winter is rising<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

RICHARD WRIGHT<\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Haiku: This Other World<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n<\/blockquote>\n

In the Fourth Century A.D., Christmas was set at the end of <\/span>December, in order to <\/span>co-opt (or <\/span><\/p>\n

overcome) ancient Sun-Solstice celebrations [see, e.g<\/em>., <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>, and even <\/span><\/span>there<\/span><\/a>]. This<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

makes the Solstice Story <\/span><\/span>well worth retelling. Universe Today<\/em> <\/span>has a good <\/span>summary<\/span><\/a> of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

science<\/span> and the lore, including this excerpt:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n
\n

The season we call \u201cwinter\u201d begins on the Winter Solstice. The word Solstice <\/span><\/p>\n

means \u201csun still\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

Because ancient peoples knew nothing of the earth\u2019s tilt, the southward march <\/span><\/p>\n

of the sun was a troubling time. There was fear that one day the sun might continue <\/span><\/p>\n

moving south until it was lost entirely. Many cultures conducted rituals to encourage <\/span><\/p>\n

the sun to move north again and when it did there were great celebrations. These <\/span><\/p>\n

celebrations, regardless of culture, all had a common theme that of rekindled light.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not surprising then that many of the traditions and customs of ancient Solstice<\/p>\n

celebrations have survived to the present day. Although we know that the sun will <\/span><\/p>\n

begin moving north without any encouragement from humans, we still use this time of <\/span><\/p>\n

cold and darkness to celebrate the theme of rekindled light. From the Hanukah Menorah, <\/span><\/p>\n

to the Scandinavian Yule log, to the lights of the Christmas tree, during this season we <\/span><\/p>\n

seek to push back the darkness with light. Although the forms have evolved over the <\/span><\/p>\n

centuries, we cans still see the spirit of many of the old ways in our present day Solstice <\/span><\/p>\n

celebrations. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

The author of “Christmas, Solstice, Chanukah: The Season of\u00a0 Light,” (at eaglequest.com) , says:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What is important is how this light is shared in people\u2019s hearts. In every faith, <\/span><\/p>\n

it is a time to forgive what is past and to begin anew: Christ brought light to the <\/span><\/p>\n

world, and redemption from sin; the darkness of the Jew\u2019s captivity was lightened <\/span><\/p>\n

and a new life began; the pagans celebrate a new cycle of beginning free of ever-<\/span><\/p>\n

darkening days.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

No matter what spiritual, religious or non-religious meaning is given to this season of celebration<\/span><\/p>\n

by individuals, families, congregations or groups, I hope we can all unite in the feeling of light<\/span><\/p>\n

and renewal — and put aside defensiveness (and <\/em>offensiveness) about whose feast we are or<\/span><\/p>\n

are not celebrating.<\/span><\/p>\n

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