Posted on Nov 14, 2025 by John W. Krysko
Holiday Preparations… From a Spiritual Perspective
A message from our Founder & President, John Krysko
The “Season” is nigh upon us. First comes the Feast of the Giving Thanks… then comes the main courses: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, then the grand Finale- “New Year’s (Eve)”. One mad rush to the finish line.
There may be no other 34-day period in the calendar that requires more preparation, more planning…more stress. So much to do- meals, gifts, cards, invitations, choices.
I did not grow up with Kwanzaa, although I understand it is a tradition almost twenty years old. But it does include celebrations, candlelighting, gift-giving, and food. That does sound familiar. With so much cross-cultural, interreligious similarity, one could easily get caught (once again) in the rip tide of the Ocean of Materialism. With 2 weeks left before Post Time, perhaps it is a time to reflect on the true meaning of these diverse, yet ultimately highly similar “holidays.”
For starters, consider the word “holiday”. Originally from the Old English word haligdaeg, it referred only to special religious days, i.e., “holy days”. Now it has more often than not become shorthand for either a vacation or a stressful period of eating, gifting, etc. Of all of our secular modern “holidays”, perhaps only Thanksgiving retains that sense of why we need to come together- to Give Thanks. No Gift Giving, save the Gift of Gratitude and Peace.
Of course, Thanksgiving has for many also become an important time for that great American pastime- Football. That tradition began almost 150 years ago (1876), just shortly after the game was invented. Back then, T-Day was a day most people had off, going back to Abraham Lincoln setting the date in 1863 as the 4th Sunday. The NFL took its cue from that original Thanksgiving Princeton vs Yale game (Yale won 2-0). So, there is a legitimate claim of the connection between the Day of the Turkey and Football.
Now, I have nothing against the game, but are we defined by a roasted bird, amazing sides including stuffings/dressings and cranberry sauce, to be followed by lying in a post-dopamine stupor watching truly huge men competing to “get across the Zero-yard line?
For starters, let’s ask the question of “What is ‘Holy’ to us?” If the answer is to eat with family and friends and kick back, that’s ok. But at least consider the possibility of what we are “Thankful.” Food, family, friends, and good competitive activities are a start. But again, why are we “thankful”? What “Good” do they represent? No judgment as to the answers you give, but it is important to ask the questions, lest the only definition of “holidays” be that of taking time off from work.
I like to start with Thanksgiving, for it does/can retain more of a connection with a Higher Quality of the Universe/God- the value of being Thankful. We give thanks to something- to ourselves, our friends, and perhaps to a Higher Power for allowing us to participate in a more Universal Cornucopia.
So, as we prepare the bird, work at cutting carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, etc., it might be a good idea to do it in a Spirit of Gratefulness. Take the motto- “As I ‘grate,’ I am grateful.” (No one need ever know).
As we sit at the table, if that is possible in your life, ask each to share what they are grateful for. Simple. Best prayers of all.
Onto the big events- Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. With all of the prep, add one more step. What are the gifts that we would most like to share? Not the ones children give us to forward to “Santa”, or the ones we often feel obligated to give to family and friends. The true gifts are those of the Spirit- Kindness, Support, Guidance, Time, and yes, Love… Wouldn’t they be fine gifts to open up?
Spiritual Gift Sharing and material gift giving need not be mutually exclusive. As you prepare to “give”, ask what you would truly like to “receive”… then give THAT to someone you love or admire. Who among us doesn’t secretly yearn to be in one of those cheesy Jimmy Stewart-type holiday movies? I know I do. In fact, I live my life every day as if it were so. Try it in this Season of Holy Days. Try it in the other 331 days.
Perhaps the only guarantee I can give is that if you truly allow “holidays” to also be “Holy Days”, then you will not wake up on 1/1/2026 with a hangover or bad taste in your mouth.
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