Significance of Christmas – Dan Rabadi

The significance of Christmas is known to all over the world and though it is true that Christmas is celebrated as the day of the birth of Jesus Christ into this world yet it also symbolizes a very deeply significant truth of the spiritual life. Jesus Christ is the very representation of divinity and he was born at a time when ignorance, superstition, greed, hatred and hypocrisy prevailed upon the land as well as purity was forgotten and morality was neglected.  In the midst of these surroundings, Christ was born and he worked a transformation in the lives of people and he gave a new and a spiritual turn to the lives of man.

There came a difference upon the land and people started upon a new way of life and thus a new era dawned for the world. In that period the seeker has no thought of god or higher spiritual life and he lives a life of lust, anger, greed, deluded attachment, pride and jealousy and if the seeker must enter into a new life of spiritual aspiration, purity as well as devotion then the Christ spirit must take its birth within his heart. That is the real Christmas when the divine element starts to express itself in the heart of the man and from then onward, light begins to shine where blackness was before. A very small but very beautiful, point of deep significance is attached to Christmas and it is the time and the manner of the birth of the lord upon the holy Christmas day.

New Year Traditions – Dan Rabadi

Many New Year customs that we take for granted actually date from ancient times. This year, ring out the old and ring in the new with a New Year tradition—or two!

Give a Gift –

New Year’s Day was once the time to swap presents.

• Gifts of gilded nuts or coins marked the start of the new year in Rome.
• Eggs, the symbol of fertility, were exchanged by the Persians.
• Early Egyptians traded earthenware flasks.
• In Scotland, coal, shortbread and silverware are exchanged for good luck.

Eat Lucky Food

Many New Year’s traditions surround food. Here are a few:

• In the southern US, black-eyed peas and pork foretell good fortune. See our recipe for Good Luck Hoppin’ John.
• Eating any ring-shaped treat (such as a donut) symbolize “coming full circle” and leads to good fortune. In Dutch homes, fritters called olie bollen are served.
• The Irish enjoy pastries called bannocks.
• The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight comes from Spain.
• In India and Pakistan, rice promises prosperity.

Make Some Noise

• In ancient Thailand, guns were fired to frighten off demons.
• In China, firecrackers routed the forces of darkness.
• In the early American colonies, the sounds of pistol shots rang through the air.
• Today, Italians let their church bells peal, the Swiss beat drums, and the North Americans sound sirens and party horns to bid the old year farewell.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

In Scotland, the custom of first-footing is an important part of the celebration of Hogmanay, or New Year’s Eve Day.