Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005 | 8:38 a.m.
Today is one of the most eagerly anticipated days of the year, for reasons that are spiritual and cultural.
For Christians, it is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whose birth, lifetime of teaching and healing, death and resurrection compose the foundation on which Christianity is based. It is a day of worship, peaceful reflection and the giving of gifts, which represent those bestowed on the newborn Jesus by three kings.
Coincidentally, the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, or Chanukah, begins today as well. The eight-day ritual commemorates the Jewish Year 5766, which commences at sunset today and ends at nightfall Jan. 2, 2006. For Jews, the religious significance of the "festival of lights" is less than that of other observances, such as Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. Hanukkah is rooted in the revolution against the persecution of Jews and the suppression of their religion.
It commemorates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in 165 BC, which persecutors had destroyed. When the Jews reclaimed their temple, they found only a small flask of oil with which to light the Menorah, a type of candelabra. Once lit, the oil miraculously burned for eight days.
For those whose view of the day is more secular than spiritual -- and, of course, the millions of people who celebrate both the day's religious and secular traditions -- it is a day of giving and receiving gifts, eating too many sweets and enjoying the family and friends who make life joyful the rest of the year. It also provides a respite from the fast pace of everyday life and inspires many to reflect on what they have accomplished, where they have been and what they hope to achieve in the coming year.
In many ways, we still yearn for the faith and tolerance our ancestors sought in the ancient beginnings of the holidays we recognize today. No matter how you choose to mark the occasion, we trust that its promises of peace and acceptance will bring you comfort, happiness and hope for tomorrow.
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