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Wacky Wednesday: December 23

It’s time for another Wacky Wednesday and this one is a little more eventful than the previous couple of Wednesdays. Not by much. I’m guessing there are fewer things to celebrate in December because there’s too many other things to celebrate. Our first word is Leasing-Monger. Leasing is an old term for falsehood making a leasing-monger a habitual liar. That could be why leasing a home or car doesn’t lead to ownership. I’m speculating here. Then we have Loiter-Sack. This term is a 17th century word for a slacker or a lazy good-for-nothing. Loiter-Sack sounds like the perfect word for a slacker.

Our token food holiday for the day is also a fun word to say, National Pfeffernusse Day. Pfeffernusse, a German spice cookie, are fluffy cookies made with ground nuts and spices and covered in powdered sugar. They are popular holiday treats. National Roots Day is a day to learn about one’s family history. Since most people travel home, or visit nearby family, for the holidays, it makes since that this would be the time to talk about the family’s past. Finally, we have Festivus. Each year on December 23rd, Festivus commemorates a holiday episode of the television comedy, “Seinfeld.”

In 1997, the popular television comedy brought Festivus to the masses when Frank Costanza (played by Jerry Stiller) explains he invented the holiday in response to the commercialism of Christmas. Its slogan is “A Festivus for the rest of us.” The idea of this holiday is to not take things too seriously including politics and religion. One tradition on this holiday is the voicing of grievances during a traditional dinner. Whatever you do for this day, make sure you enjoy some spice cookies and call out your family for being Leasing-Mongers and Loiter-Sacks.

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Coffee and Contemplation: Yule/Yuletide

December 21 is the first day of Winter or the Winter Solstice. This is also celebrated as Yule. Yule is the final celebration for the Wheel of the Year and the cycle ends and begins again. This is also when the Holly King is celebrated during the peak of his power and reign over half the year. He will lose the battle to the Oak King who reigns over the other half of the year in the Spring. Yule celebrations involve bonfires, decorating with holly, mistletoe and the boughs of evergreen trees, ritual sacrifices, feasts, and gift-giving. I don’t recommend you participate in the sacrifices because I don’t recommend killing anything.

Many of the traditions of Yule were carried over into Christmas celebrations. The midwinter feast usually lasted 12 days (the 12 days of Christmas). Vikings decorated evergreen trees with gifts, food, and carvings (Christmas tree). In Norse tradition, Old Man Winter visited homes to join the festivities. Odin was described as a wanderer with a long white beard and is considered the first Father Christmas. These are a few examples and chances are many of you already celebrate Yule believing it’s Christmas. I think it’s time for the world to admit that Christmas has never been about Jesus. Also, let’s just call it Yule from now on.

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National Human Rights Month

December is National Human Rights Month. The goal is for everyone in the United States, and the world, to stand up for equality, justice, and the dignity of all humans. I would argue we do this for all living creatures too. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an international document which states the rights and freedoms entitled to all human beings of any race, age, gender, sex, creed, religion, or ethnicity. It features a preamble and 30 articles of rights and freedoms. It was proclaimed on December 10, 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris.

This is a reminded to stand up against white supremacy and other organizations like them. This is a reminder to stop dehumanizing people. If you can’t care for others, at least don’t hurt them. This is a reminder to follow the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated. This is also the main guideline for the Charter for Compassion. I recommend everyone read through these documents, the charter and the declaration. It’s the first step in changing the way most humans treat each other and other living things.