Winter Solstice

Today is the Winter Solstice. This, to me, is the apex of the winter season and the reason for Yule. It's a special time of year for me. Don't get me wrong. Christmas is special to me, too. But for a different reason. Christmas is more of an important family and seasonal tradition. But when you don't much buy into the theological reason for Christmas, understand that in the opinion of many scholars Jesus of Nazareth was born in January, and accept that the December 25th celebration was put into place to supplant the Pagan celebrations of Yule and Winster Solstice, it's not hard to see why Christmas is a secular holiday for me, and Winter Solstice marks the beginning of Yule. To me, Yule is the spiritual side of the season.

Let's keep this between us. My mother has recently told me that the fact that I have different religious beliefs than she does has led her to doubt her own beliefs. Which I don't get, really, since my own opinion is that all religions are based on the same core Truth, and we all just argue about the details. But Mama was raised to believe that you don't question your religious leaders, much less the underlying theology. So the simple fact that I don't believe exactly as she does is a direct challenge to everything that she believes.

For the most part, we just don't talk about it. Best to avoid the issue altogether. Personally, I don't see a problem. Mama's traditions and mine overlap. She'll get to celebrate Christmas with my full participation. And I get to celebrate two holidays at the same time. It's a win/win for me. It's a win for Mama as long as little is said about this Yule business.

Anyway, on this, the shortest day of the year, and the official beginning of the Yule, I am finally beginning to feel something that could easily pass for the Christmas spirit.