I admit that may have been my first thought, when:
- Six months after moving to Ethiopia, my wife and I found ourselves with a day off from language study for Timket (Amharic: ጥምቀት), the Orthodox Church’s celebration of the occasion centuries earlier when Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan.
- During a three-week visit in South Korea our hosts detailed the next day’s plan to picnic and spend much of the day in Olympic Park. Why? Children’s Day!
- While visiting my wife’s parents near Victoria, B.C., we found ourselves one July 1, surrounded by the local festivities of Canada Day.
Many who read this “blog post” today may have found themselves reacting similarly during December. There are so many “holidays” in the USA; some are informal, on other days offices are closed and employees enjoy a day off! For an example of each kind:
- Giving Tuesday
- Pearl Harbor Day
- Hanukkah
- National Brownie Day (hey, I missed that!)
- Winter Solstice
- Christmas
- Kwanzaa
- New Year’s Eve
“Those are not my holidays: cultural, religious, or national! Bah! I’m busy with other things, anyway. What I miss are my holidays, family and home… so much”
When I faced my own disinterest in the holidays important to other people, several options surfaced: pay no attention; stay isolated; learn the basics about the holiday – origin & meaning, traditions – observe; participate where invited and conscience allows; enjoy.
Frankly, it also got me thinking about holidays, including my own: Why do we have them? Do we need them? Which will I teach my children; and, how will I answer if & when they ask, “Dad, why do we do this?” Holiday: originally, holy day. Hmmm
–sh
