With whomever you gather this month, remember love and family

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 97 begins, “How like a winter hath my absence been from thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! What old December’s bareness everywhere!” December is when families keenly feel separation from loved ones, crossing vast distances to be united. Shared memories, shared meals, and shared mirth banish December’s bareness.

The City of Beaverton starts this season on December 5th with a Winter Lights and Tree Lighting Event and on December 7th, with an Arts Market.

On December 8th, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day for the Buddha’s enlightenment with meditation, study, good deeds, and a shared meal of tea and cake.
Starting December 14th, Jews celebrate Hanukkah for the Temple’s lamp oil lasting eight days with menorah candles lit nightly, singing and games, and shared meals of fried foods.
On December 20th, Zoroastrians celebrate Yalda throughout the year’s longest night with Persian poetry and a shared meal of dried fruit, nuts, watermelon, and pomegranates.
On December 21st, Wiccans celebrate Yule for light’s return and days growing longer with feasting, gift-giving, and lighting fires.
On December 25th, Christians celebrate Christmas for Jesus’ birth with singing, gift-giving, and shared meals.
Starting December 26th, the African diaspora celebrates Kwanzaa with seven candles and principles, readings, songs, and a feast.

With whomever you gather this month, when freezings frighten, remember the love that has warmed your way this year. Recall absent loved ones and the pleasure their continued presence brings in memories, meals, and mirth.

Thank you for this reading: I am grateful for the opportunity to share uplifting messages with this community for the last 4 ½ years; a special thanks for Michael Wong’s editorial help since June 2021. This will be my final column; I look forward to hearing new voices from our community in this space!

Rev. Dr. Sybrant serves at Murray Hills Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For more info, visit us at 15050 SW Weir Road, Beaverton. 503-524-5230. www.murrayhills.org