Winter Holidays
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Welcome to The Golden Thread of Truth! The intention of the material is to teach our children that all the world’s religions support a consistent message about the truth of who we are. Stories from Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and contemporary authors support the same underlying messages and values.
December’s Theme is The Gift of Holiday Traditions. The last month of the year has many holidays that are celebrated around the world. The consistent thread is celebrating our spiritual truths and giving to those we love.
Week #1: Giving Gifts - Showing Love: Story: The Gift of the Magi
Week #2: The Light of the Menorah: Story: One Little Candle
Week #3: Christmas: Joyful Tidings: Story: The Story of Jesus' Birth
Week #4: Kwanzaa: Honoring Spirit: Story: Anansi and his Sons
Week #1: Giving Gifts - Showing Love: Story: The Gift of the Magi
Week #2: The Light of the Menorah: Story: One Little Candle
Week #3: Christmas: Joyful Tidings: Story: The Story of Jesus' Birth
Week #4: Kwanzaa: Honoring Spirit: Story: Anansi and his Sons
Week #1: Giving Gifts - Showing Love
Main Message: When we exchange gifts, we are looking for just the right present to make our loved ones light up and know that we had picked something just for them, because we knew they would love it. Giving and receiving gifts is a tradition in many holidays. This week, we turn to the work of O. Henry, an American writer, who wrote the classic story “The Gift of the Magi’ in 1905.
Week #2: The Light of the Menorah
Main Message: Hanukkah is an eight day holiday that celebrates a miracle. Back in the 2nd century, the Greek government closed down a Jewish temple and banned Judaism. There was a revolt by the Jewish people and the temple was reclaimed and services were started again. The success of the Jewish people to continue practicing their faith was intended to be celebrated by lighting of the Temple’s Menorah but they only had enough oil for one day. However, miraculously, the oil lasted eight days. Hanukkah is also called The Festival of Lights. The date to celebrate Hanukkah, like other Jewish holidays, changes based upon the Jewish calendar. This year it is celebrated from December 16 through December 24.
Week #3: Christmas: Joyful Tidings
Main Message: Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth. Jesus was a Teacher to all of us because he knew his connection to God. Jesus was love in action. He gave many lessons to his followers that are recorded in the Bible. During his life, he helped many understand their connection to God and now, two thousand years after his birth, he continues to teach all of us about our connection to God.
Week #4: Kwanzaa: Honoring Spirit
Main Message: Kwanzaa is an African American secular holiday which is celebrated from December 26th until New Year’s Day. Dr. Maulana Karenga first envisioned the idea for a cross-national African holiday as a way to bring African Americans together as a community and family. This year’s theme, 2013, is “Celebrating and Living Kwanzaa, Sowing and Harvesting Seeds of Good.” Each of the seven days of the Holiday each commemorates a different guiding principle: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).
Main Message: When we exchange gifts, we are looking for just the right present to make our loved ones light up and know that we had picked something just for them, because we knew they would love it. Giving and receiving gifts is a tradition in many holidays. This week, we turn to the work of O. Henry, an American writer, who wrote the classic story “The Gift of the Magi’ in 1905.
- The best gifts are the ones given from your heart
- The Magi are also in the Christmas Story of Jesus’s birth as the three kings who give him gifts.
- Giving Gifts is a common thread running through all Holidays in December
Week #2: The Light of the Menorah
Main Message: Hanukkah is an eight day holiday that celebrates a miracle. Back in the 2nd century, the Greek government closed down a Jewish temple and banned Judaism. There was a revolt by the Jewish people and the temple was reclaimed and services were started again. The success of the Jewish people to continue practicing their faith was intended to be celebrated by lighting of the Temple’s Menorah but they only had enough oil for one day. However, miraculously, the oil lasted eight days. Hanukkah is also called The Festival of Lights. The date to celebrate Hanukkah, like other Jewish holidays, changes based upon the Jewish calendar. This year it is celebrated from December 16 through December 24.
- The flame of a candle reminds us to come into the light of the Divine
- Each of us shines our light by sharing our gifts and talents
- Hanukkah is celebrated to remember God’s miracles and family connections.
Week #3: Christmas: Joyful Tidings
Main Message: Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth. Jesus was a Teacher to all of us because he knew his connection to God. Jesus was love in action. He gave many lessons to his followers that are recorded in the Bible. During his life, he helped many understand their connection to God and now, two thousand years after his birth, he continues to teach all of us about our connection to God.
- Jesus is important because he knew his connection to God
- Jesus is loved and special and you are loved and special.
Week #4: Kwanzaa: Honoring Spirit
Main Message: Kwanzaa is an African American secular holiday which is celebrated from December 26th until New Year’s Day. Dr. Maulana Karenga first envisioned the idea for a cross-national African holiday as a way to bring African Americans together as a community and family. This year’s theme, 2013, is “Celebrating and Living Kwanzaa, Sowing and Harvesting Seeds of Good.” Each of the seven days of the Holiday each commemorates a different guiding principle: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).
- Each member of our family and community is important
- Living our core values is important
- Kwanzaa has been embraced across cultural and racial divides to become a wonderful celebration of family and culture that reinforces basic values.