Hello faithful reader,
The end is here. The end of another year that is. This is the last “Monday Musings” post for 2010. I really find it difficult to believe that yet another year has gone by. I was out snowshoeing with my son this past weekend (It’s a miracle he still wants to do something with dear old dad as he’s 18) and we were discussing getting older and the speed at which time seems to fly by as we get older. We also made plans for a long weekend of snbowshoeing in the Adirondacks. We’re going to climb Goodnow Mtn. which is one of my favorite snowshoe peaks in the ‘Dacks. Looking forward to that weekend.
I’m also pretty happy about the holidays being over. Don’t get me wrong I love Christmas and “most” of the things which go with them. What I don’t and won’t miss are the racing around, it’s all about me, never-sit-down-to-enjoy-the-moment days. These are the days which seem to meld together into one big exhaustive rush to please everyone else.
This summer I turned 40-plus and can’t believe six-months have gone by since my birthday. I have noticed a refreshed, renewed level of interest to accomplish the tasks necessary to grow my business. There is also a renewed sense of “I don’t care” attitude. That attitude surrounds wasting time thinking about what others think, especially those who are miserable and only seem to have a vested interest in whining and complaining about what “isn’t happening in their life.” I find that type of worry a waste of the precious energy I have and choose to conserve as much energy as possible to ensure I reach the daily goals I set for myself.
Christmas was a happy ending to this week. My favorite part of the Christmas celebration is the Polish tradition of Wigilia. Wigilia (from the Latin term vigilare meaning “to await”) is the Polish name for Christmas Eve. Much work must be done, including cooking, baking, and all the housework. This way, the two holidays that follow can be devoted to praying, caroling, eating, relaxing, and eventually visiting. This special day is associated with several beliefs and customs.
When the first star appears in the sky, the Christmas tree is lit and the dinner begins. The Christmas Eve meal starts with a prayer, the sharing of the blessed oplatek (consecrated bread wafer which is similar to that used during Holy Communion in the Roman Catholic Church), and exchanging wishes. Usually, the male head of the household takes the wafer and turns to his wife, extending it toward her. He wishes her good health and success in the upcoming year, the fulfillment of her dreams, and, if there have been any misunderstandings, he asks her for forgiveness and for the new year to be a better one. The wife then thanks him and breaks off half of the wafer and eats a piece of it. Next, she offers the wafer to her husband, expressing similar wishes. He breaks the wafer and eats it. This ceremony is repeated with each person present, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest.
.jpg "Buffalo NY Wedding Photography")
After the breaking of the wafer and an the exchanging of wishes, everyone sits down at the dinner table. The table is covered with a white tablecloth and there is one additional place set for an unexpected guest who, especially that night, should not be turned away. This is to remind us that St. Joseph and Mary were also looking for shelter. Until the first star appears, Wigilia is a day of fasting. Although there are plenty of dishes on the table, this is a traditionally meatless dinner. It consists of homemade mushroom soup, fish, sauerkraut, pierogi stuffed with mushrooms and cabbage. It should be pointed out that today in Poland, no one imagines the Wigilia dinner without fish just as nobody in the U.S. thinks of Thanksgiving dinner without a turkey.
Namaste and thank you all for reading. I hope your Christmas was bright and your New Years even brighter. Next week we’ll have photos from my last wedding of the year, literally.
Chris
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