Holidays

The cradle for all faith formation is in the home. When the images are on our walls, the conversations are at our tables and the music fills the room, beliefs jump from concepts into real life. One of the ways religions keep this in-home practice active is through a calendar full of holidays. It is always fresh. Each week or season or anniversary brings posters, special foods, special icons, special music, required readings and special reasons to pray together. Families bring the displays into their homes. Clergy or celebrants dress for the occasion. It’s like a community mind meld – and then – onto the next focus.

These holidays also provide easy opportunities to communicate with non-community members about core tenets. We show respect across faiths by simply learning the most appropriate holiday greetings – a symbolic nod to the differences among us.