The author puts forth an idea for your consideration.

Since [a fellow blogger] began posting his stories of the Andalucia region of Spain earlier this year, I have become more aware of - and delighted to learn - how often people from those Mediterranean countries celebrate. Here, our celebrations seem to be losing out to the driving forces to work, work, work...

We wonder why the people in this country do not accept one another's cultural and religious differences. Perhaps, we would find it easier to do so if we all took off for the cultural and religious holidays of all who live here. I don't know enough about those holidays to list them here, but as an example, we would take off for Rosh Hoshana as surely as we take off for Christmas. Already, Easter has all but been forgotten. No one takes off for Good Friday, anymore. When I was growing up, we took off from Wednesday through Easter Sunday.

Perhaps, our greedy financial leaders are afraid we will lose a few dollars if we take off early to share in the celebration of Hanukkah. Without question, we would be better off if we lost those few dollars and celebrated the fact the Our Lord does, indeed, provide for our needs. You do know the story behind the Festival of Lights, do you not? No? Well, I'll tell you about it.

When the Jews were fleeing Egypt, they had enough oil to light their lamps for one night, but their journey would require them to travel for eight nights. The Lord allowed that small amount of oil to last the full eight nights, ensuring that they completed their journey safely. The Lord does provide.

In the process of celebrating one another's holidays, which is a contraction for "holy days," we would learn about them and, in turn, we would learn about the people who call this country home. Then, perhaps, we would all be Americans, instead of Anglo-Americans, African-Americans, et cetera, so forth, and so on.

An idea worth pondering, don't you think?

May 17, 2007
Copyright © 2007 by Virginia Tolles