At five years old, my birthday was my favorite time of year. In my young adult dating years, Valentine’s Day ranked #1. Christmas anticipation didn’t last long as my dysfunctional family of origin turned a Norman Rockwell holiday into one of chaos, anger and disappointment. No fun. For years, I dreaded winter holidays when stores began displaying Christmas decorations in September. If I could only jump to January 2nd. What happened to living in the moment — for merchants, or for me?
As I’ve become more spiritual, Thanksgiving moved into top position for favorite holiday. I prefer the lower key ambience and taking more time to reflect deeply on the people who have given special meaning to my life — a simple kindness, a confidante’, an excellent health care provider…
But this year, things changed. It occurred to me that many of our holidays have been virtual holidays, perhaps the precursor to the internet’s fake news. After all, no one knows for sure if Christ’s birthday was December 25th. Valentine’s Day is just as mysterious. And Thanksgiving — well what am I giving thanks for if my ancestors came to America, killed the Native American Indians then stole their homeland only to destroy it? That reality sickens me.
I’ve long felt that Thanksgiving was the more solemn of holidays but now more deeply understand why. No more “celebrating” fake holidays for me. Expressing gratitude on any arbitrary day, and as many days as possible throughout the year are my days of thanks giving. Now that’s something real, and worth celebrating.
There’s a traditional Native American Seneca greeting I love any time of the year: Na:weh Skennio
It means Thank you for being! For all that you do and for who you are, I thank you for being. – Jamie Sams in The Fabric of the Future
And that makes any day of the year a real holiday in my heart.
wRighTing My Life 
Yes, I recall the time I discovered that Jesus was not born on December 24-25 and how deflated I felt for celebrating on that date and for all of those years. Backing out of the Christmas madness has made me take a closer look at other holidays and how I choose to celebrate them. I do wish the truth was told about these dates rather than perpetuate lies from school age to adulthood. I think that is the only way we can make fairer assessments of life and history, and, therefore, make more positive choices as to how we live our lives today.
Understanding the truth frees me to live or celebrate how I choose rather than to do what has always been done because that’s what has always been done. But, that’s just my humble opinion and where I’ve come to, today. Giving thanks for your input. 🙂
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Jesus was not born on 24/25 December. The date does not fit with history/fact. It was a pagan holiday about that time of year and the Christians tagged on so they would not be persecuted. And of course, the pilgrims did not celebrate thanksgiving, as this became evident later but at least the “stories” of or about our holidays sound much better than the actual accounts.
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