This is the perfect weekend with Christmas and Hanukkah right around the corner along with Boxing Day.
Many Americans are not familiar with the history of the latter, but it is perhaps second only in importance to celebrating the birth of Jesus. The tradition of Boxing Day may be traced back to the early Christian era when the rich used to box up gifts to the poor. Today it is much more popular in the UK and Commonwealth Nations and is concurrent with the Christian holiday, Saint Stephan’s Day or Day of Goodwill.
We tend to focus on what we will get for Christmas but the point of Boxing Day is sharing with folks who are less fortunate. When we focus on giving instead of getting, it really is the season to be jolly. However, it is much more especially in Hawaii where it seems the Christmas spirit continues all year thanks to the constant reminder that we choose to live aloha. The basic teachings of Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Moses and other spiritual leaders all come together here. Diversity is mostly respected. Faith, hope and love are emphasized in Judeo Christian, Muslim and Hindu ethics. Buddhist teachings reflect this as well, but go one step further. Some folks may disagree, but as Buddha is quoted, “We are shaped by our thoughts: We become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” Put all this together and we have aloha!
Of course there are big differences when it come to the European and North American traditional ideas of Christmas with snow, Santa Claus and presents. In Hawaii, we often see the same activities that we might see in July. The surf and beach are still the big attraction. Folks might even take the holidays to catch up on gardening projects.
Some folks miss the snow and the bite of frost in the air. They miss the cold, dark days when all life is dormant. They long for the coziness of an open fireplace and the smell of turkey, ham or roast beef cooking in the kitchen.
But think about it. Most of the customs now associated with Christmas have little to do with the real meaning.
For example, the European mistletoe, Viscum albaum, originally had nothing to do with Christmas, it was considered sacred by those same tree worshippers because it grew on oaks. To this day in Europe amulets and rings of mistletoe are worn as an antidote against sickness. American Mistletoe, Phoradendron leucarpum, is similar. There are six endemic and native species of mistletoe or Korthalsella in Hawaii, but you might not recognize them if they were not pointed out to you.
Since we can’t plant the typical mistletoe over the threshold here, we may find joy in gardening. Yuletide gardening will be the top activity for many folks through the holidays so even if you live in a condo you can turn your attention indoor plantings. COVID restricted our social gatherings and parties, for the few couple of years but it gave us an opportunity to focus on the real meaning of this season.
Merry Christmas and the best holidays ever to all. Don’t forget prayers for a safe and healthy 2025 aloha year.
Norman Bezona is professor emeritus, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.