As always, this writer is indebted to wikipedia, which is a treasure trove of information about almost any subject imaginable, and was particularly useful as a reference for this diary.
The longest night of the year lies two days days ahead, on December 21st, representing yet another Winter Solstice. Celebrations of the Winter Solstice first appeared in ancient times, predating the more prevalent holiday traditions that are more familiar to most of us.
The Winter Solstice represented both an end and a beginning. It marked an end to the year, a time when livestock were typically slaughtered to conserve precious food stocks. Given the rare and abundant luxury of fresh meat, and the prospect of a long winter ahead, these celebrations represented a sort of bacchanalia before battening down the hatches for the long months that loomed ahead. It also marked the anticipation of longer days ahead, heralding warmer temperatures and more sunlight, necessary to grow the food that sustained life.
At the time of the Winter Solstice, many wondered if the provisions set aside for the long winter ahead would be sufficient to prevent starvation, which was particularly common during the months of January and April. So, these celebrations also marked the beginning of the long night ahead, when anxiety and uncertainty became unwelcome companions.
During this time of year, we are surrounded and inundated with reminders that this is a special, magical season — one of great hope and joy. Many among us are swept away by the endless gatherings with friends and family, colorful decorations and bright lights, reassuring strains of Bing Crosby’s crooning of “White Christmas”, Jimmy Stewart’s performance in “Its a Wonderful Life”, and the many other trappings of the season. Avoiding the Madison Avenue created expectation we should hope to emulate is almost impossible to avoid. One cannot turn on the television, particularly on December 24th and 25th, without being reminded that if their life does not resemble the mirth portrayed on the screen, that their life is lacking, as if such reminders are necessary. Music of the season is heard in stores, offices, and sometimes just outside our front door. Regarding the latter topic, there seem to be those for whom draping their home and yard in a mass of colorful lights and decorations is not enough. They must also play amplified, tinny, annoying renditions of holiday tunes for hours on end, and in their spirit of dubious generosity, ensure that the rest of the neighborhood is able to “share” in their enthusiasm.
Some of us seek that ever elusive Holy Grail of the “perfect” holiday season, and all too often, discover that these hopes and aspirations fall far short of the result. Suicides, divorces, and admissions to alcohol/drug treatment centers are common during and shortly after the winter holiday season.
We can easily forget that the gaiety so prevalent in our midst is not shared by everyone. There are many who are living on the brink, struggling from paycheck to paycheck (if they are fortunate enough to be employed), ever fearful that one of many possible and unavoidable developments could push them over the edge. Many of the excesses of the season that we are told are necessary for a “proper” holiday observance requires vast expenditures, with funds that continue to shrink. For these individuals, this becomes a time of attempts to adopt the “spirit of the season”, coupled with fear that money spent for unnecessaries today will be needed for necessities tomorrow.
Then there are the millions who are mired in despair, joined by legions of newcomers, who could not have possibly imagined a short time ago that such would become their fate as well. For those unfortunates, in particular, every reminder of the gaiety of the season becomes a stinging mockery of their destitute condition.
