To celebrate the launch of the new book: Let Your Soul Sing: Enlightenment is for Everyone, we are hosting a holiday giveaway. Please comment below to let us know what you cherish about the holidays and what you see as the deeper significance of the season. On December 24 we will randomly pick 5 names from the comments below and send each a copy of Let Your Soul Sing.
Significance of the “Holi”days
What does the word HOLIDAY really refer to?
According to the merriam-webster dictionary, it literally means “Holy Day”. The word comes from Middle English, originally from Old English hāligdæg, from hālig holy + dæg day. It’s first known use is before the 12th century.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the holidays occur during the darkest time of the year, when the days are shortest and hours of sunlight are diminishing each day. With less light outside, people traditionally create wholeness through more light inside, by putting up lights on the Christmas tree, lighting the menorah, lighting ghee lamps for Dipavali, etc. We also send each other greetings of peace and holiday cheer for the New Year to spread that light and spirit of the season to our extended families and friends. Often many people make a renewed resolution to spread peace and goodwill in the world.
In addition to the generous spirit of giving presents, this time of year also serves to remind us of the holy, the light and wholeness within each of us—hallmarks of enlightenment. The inner light of consciousness can be systematically developed so that every day can be a holi-day, lived from the blissful state of inner peace. Being established in our own inner peace, freedom, and light is the perfect foundation from which to start out the New Year.
Wishing you peaceful holidays celebrating the light of enlightenment around the world. Please also enjoy this video, May Peace on Earth be Powerful.
Again, Please comment below to let us know what you cherish about the holidays and what you see as the deeper significance of the season. This comment will automatically enter you into our Holiday Giveaway!
*Please note – Our team will contact all winners with the email address provided when placing comment
This is a very well written post. Thank you so much for helping us to put our attention on what matters during this holiday season.
What I cherish most about the holidays is the feeling I get inside around Christmas time. The lights from the tree, all the smells and being around my family. All of this combined create a feeling for me that really only comes once a year… Feeling “the spirit of Christmas” is what I cherish most!
Happy “holi”days 🙂
That’s an interesting point that holidays in the darker part of the year involve lights to celebrate. I had never really thought about the significance of lights in the dark. When I think about Christmas, what I cherish most is the experience of walking in the dark to the candle-lit church on Christmas Eve. We spend an hour or two singing Christmas songs, go out into the silent dark and back home to presents.
What I cherish most is the annual family Christmas Eve party my family has every year. Unfortunately I have not been to it the last couple years because of travel… Thank you!
What I love most about X-mas is time off work spent with my kids! Every year we do a ski trip, which is priceless… Way to go on the publication of the new book!
Honestly, my favorite part of the holiday season is still probably the food. I LOVE FOOD!
I love the silence that comes with the snow, the ice-skating that comes with the ice, and most of all the sense of unity with all people, family, friends, and strangers.
Growing up, our home was always bright with candles, a fireplace, and a tree full of shining baubles. We sangs songs around the piano, and celestial and delicious smells filled the air.
I love the tradition of being with the family for the purpose of joy
In northern climates Christmas and other religious holidays a this titme of the year, are a celebration of Light…Light be it candlelight, Christmas lights or other religous lights…gaily bedecking homes, shops and streets, coming on as they do at the darkest time of the year.. symbolise the Light within, which is available to all of us at the darkest times in our lives, it is in utter darkness that we value Light from whatever part of our Soul or psyche it appears… for it cheers us up ..and sometimes…can…illuminates a way out of darkness..
Putting up the Christmas lights or other religious lights at this time…..signals.. we are now prepared to adopt higher human values for the festive period,…values of forgiveness, joy, co-operation,community,friendliness,compassion for those who are troubled at this time or less well off..we cheerfully wish all and sundry “a Merry Christmas” and they return our good wishes to us…. only at the darkest time of the year can we really appreciate the Festive Lights..both physically and metaphorically.
“A Merry Christmas” to you all,enjoy all Festive Lights this Christmastime….,
Mary
What I love most is starting fresh with a new year…
what i love most about the holidays
1) the celebration of our lords birthday
2) decorating the tree
3) spending time with family and friends
4) baking cookies and gingerbread for santa
5) giving thanks
I love having a dedicated time to see all of my family. It brings back a feeling of brotherhood that digs back to Childhood. Everyone’s differences are set aside simply for the joy of community.
I enjoy getting together with my family this time of year, I think that’s the most important part of the season.
The Holidays always brings out the generosity and love from complete strangers. What the holidays mean to me is that it is a reminder of how we should act all year long.
Since I like cooking for family and friends all year round anyway, the holidays provide a perfect opportunity to celebrate with delicious meals and happy faces. This is especially true when I am also able to prepare the meal with the colorful produce recently harvested from my own organic garden. To me, this expression of connecting with the earth and my family embodies the best of the holiday spirit.
I enjoy the mood. Everyone is working hard to be at there best and everyone is being as kind as they can.
I cherish the holidays because I can be with my family and reflect on what I have done in the past year and try to figure out how to better myself for the next year.
I love being with family and friends – eating amazing food – enjoying chilled out times and if in Australia going to the beach!
We move from the darkest part of the year, the shortest days, to increasing light. Spiritually, we go deep within, to the most quiet part of ourselves, where seeds are planted in our souls by our thoughts in the darkest part of winter. The rest of the year brings more light, the seeds germinate, and our Life grows.
Holidays offer you a period to Shrink & Pull out yourself from mundane routine activities and take a take a Dip within to Explore the boundless and Timeless Infinity that you are!