Here is a piece from Dr. Weil which seems especially relevant at this time of the year. In November we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, the holiday when many of us will share in celebration for all our blessings -- and for the strength to face our trials as well. In this selection Dr. Weil urges us to focus on making each aspect of our holiday routines especially resonant as we share with family and friends.
Celebrating Personal Rituals
“With the holidays fast approaching, take a little time to reflect on your personal celebratory rituals. What do they mean to you? What would you change or add? Even simple holiday rituals can have deep emotional resonance. Our relationships are intensified as we dine with friends or relatives; our values are reinforced as we make charitable gifts or volunteer our time; our sense of continuity is refreshed by the comforting sameness of the season.
This year, why not create new rituals by reinvigorating old traditions? Bake your great-grandmother's favorite cake; use heirloom linens to set the table. Incorporate new ideas into old routines. For instance, after toasting the New Year, share your personal bests from the past year - and hopes for the new one. You may find that a few twists add just the right amount of tradition.
You may also want to learn more about other celebrations. In the United States, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's Eve are commonly celebrated. Learning more about the history behind these celebrations can help you to better understand the meaning they hold for others. Think of new ways you can mark these days as special, even if they are not your traditional days of celebrating.”
- Good Morning from Dr. Weil.com, Nov. 8, 2003
Selected Books from Oak Rise Cottage Shelves
For a sweet example of memorable holiday ritual with family, read A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg (Waldman House Press, 1982) and its sequel, A Memory of Christmas Tea (1999)
A Christmas Gathering by Pat Ross (Viking Penguin, 1991) gives samplings of vintage Christmas traditions. One way to record your holiday celebrations is with The Victoria and Albert Museum Christmas List Book (Random Century, 1989
