twelfth month holy month—
Hanukkah, Rohatsu, Christmas, Yule
Kwanzaa, Posadas Navidenas, Ōmisoka
Advent and midnight Mass
longest night, shortest day
sun’s rebirth at winter solstice
brings winter with
longer, lambent, lucent days ahead
crèches, menorahs, kinaras
twinkling lights and silver bells
carols and dreidels
feasts of food and gifts
mix with meditation, celebration
reverence and joy
and sometimes uninvited grief
garlands of holly, ivy, and mistletoe
deck the halls
pin᷉atas, parades and parties
eggnog, fruitcake, cranberries
lefse, latkes, kugel
soba and mochi, challah and wassail
signify ritual and tradition
stockings and elves and Charlie Brown
The Nutcracker and gingerbread houses
candy canes, sugar plums, cookie swaps
and a partridge in a pear tree
mark the holiest of months
omega and alpha
ending and beginning
the most wonderful time of the year
—Carole Coates, December 2021
This is one of my favorite poems of yours. I have never thought about all of the holy days that are celebrated during December. Nothing new, but you also taught me some new words (lambert), new holidays (Omisoka), new food (lefse), and tied it all together so beautifully at the end. I think I will read this tonight with some friends who will celebrate with us. Happy new year to you and Ron. Jan
You’ve managed to bundle all aspects of the season into a beautiful tribute.
Thank you. And, wishes for a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year.
Ginger
Living on the Diagonal 
Happy New Year!
On Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 12:00 PM Living on the Diagonal wrote:
> LivingOnTheDiagonal posted: ” twelfth month holy month— Hanukkah, Rohatsu, > Christmas, Yule Kwanzaa, Posadas Navidenas, Ōmisoka Advent and midnight > Mass longest night, shortest day sun’s rebirth at winter solstice brings > winter with longer, lambent, lucent days ahead crè” >
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Same to you, Meredith!
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Love your poem!
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Thank you, Leslie!
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This is one of my favorite poems of yours. I have never thought about all of the holy days that are celebrated during December. Nothing new, but you also taught me some new words (lambert), new holidays (Omisoka), new food (lefse), and tied it all together so beautifully at the end. I think I will read this tonight with some friends who will celebrate with us. Happy new year to you and Ron. Jan
>
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You have made my day, Jan!
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You’ve managed to bundle all aspects of the season into a beautiful tribute.
Thank you. And, wishes for a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year.
Ginger
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Thank you, Ginger. Same to you.
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