Why do we celebrate?

[Crowan]

At our local Shamanic Group meeting for Samhain we have a long and interesting discussion about why we celebrate (in our case, The Eight Festivals). No conclusions of course, and no right or wrong answers - although the most common answer was "haven't really thought about it..."

So - I'd be really interested in what you celebrate and why you (both as a member of your religion and as an individual) celebrate the events/days etc. that you do.

[Principled]

Hi Crowan,

Interesting question!

The word "holy" means "set apart" - and isn't that what most holy days or festivals are?

To me, as a Christian Scientist, I don't think of festivals as specific days or times, but as on-going events of momentous importance - Christmas and Easter are the two I commemorate, but they are an on-going daily event that I give gratitude for and try to learn spiritual lessons from.

As an individual, I have a family get-together, give gifts etc, but I always feel that that is the social, cultural side, which nowadays has very little to do with religion, but I enjoy it (I particularly enjoy chocolate bunnies!) so why not?

If anyone's interested, in reading it, this article really sums up to me what the real meaning of Christmas and Easter are (and it includes a wonderful healing of a child born disabled):

Christmas - its promise and fulfillment
The universal message of Christmas (the prenatal innocence of men and women and all creation), the message of the resurrection (the continuity of their progress in the forever expression of Life), and the message of the ascension (the eternal unity of God and His creation), are one symphonic chord....

Love and peace,

Judy

[Crowan]

Thanks for this, Principled. You clearly take what you do and believe very seriously. In some ways I feel the same about the Eight Festivals - they are moments to celebrate a larger, on-going mystery.

But I wonder - why do we celebrate? I know that some people simply want an excuse to do what they want to do - from gathering with family and friends, to a complete knees-up - and, like you, I enjoy that side of it. But, also like you, I don't think that's the important part.

For some people I know who also celebrate the Eight Festivals, it is a time to be aware of the wheel turning. For me, since shamanism gives me the opportunity, I view a festival as a time to help to keep the wheel turning. I don't know if that makes sense in other faiths (which is partly why I posed the question).

So, Principled, why do you celebrate Christmas and Easter? Is it for you, for God? what does it actually achieve?

Anyone else? It's a wonderfully complex world, with wonderfully complex people in it. I'd love to know what you all think.

[Flit]

It's an interesting one Crowan.

The way I look at it, or try to look at it, is that each day is special for some reason.
Each day is always someone's birthday even if I don't know about it.
Each day is a special day to someone for some reason or other.
And, each day is special for us because there will never be that day again.

It is good to have personal days that mark events, but each day can be special
because it is the day that we do have.

I would like to celebrate the opportunities for each living moment,
for me, for God and for the possibilities of communication that we do have.

Thank you for asking the questions you do Crowan..

It's a wonderfully complex world, with wonderfully complex people in it

It is!

[Kiga]

As a non-Church-going Christian (I mean regular services), the two occasions which have importance for me are Christmas and Easter, but it does seem that the actual reasons for their celebration are getting lost under the piles of presents and chocolate bunnies etc.

When I was a child, there was a lot more focus on the actual birth of Jesus at Christmas, and of course his death and resurrection at Easter; nowadays it's not considered PC in schools or the media to seem to be giving more importance to one religion over another, and as a consequence a lot of today's children only know that Chrismas means Father Christmas (or Santa) and presents.

I'm afraid I don't much enjoy the Christmas season any more because of its commercialisation. Yes, it's enjoyable to get together with relatives and friends and have a good time, but I do try to keep in mind the original reason for our "celebrations", and am always relieved when the madness is over for another year!