(Each Saturday, a faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com)
“Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as … as a fiddler on the roof.” This quote from the movie, “Fiddler on the Roof,” is spoken by the father, Tevye. When I first heard it, I wasn’t sure of the meaning, but with age, I have learned that traditions and rituals are something we need to have in our lives to help us feel connected with each other and with the Great Mystery some call God.
This time of year — harvest time — was a great time of community and traditions for our ancestors. Women gathered in circles at kitchen tables, in long houses and around campfires knitting, sewing, weaving and creating clothes, blankets and items to keep the family warm during the long, dark months of winter. Men worked the fields putting up hay for the animals, harvesting crops, hunting and fishing for food to feed their families. Children helped, too, learning from parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
The traditions and rituals observed at this time of year were brought from across the seas by ancestors who left or fled other parts of the globe. Once here, they incorporated their traditions and rituals into those already being celebrated by the settlers and indigenous people of the New World.
Many people believe that the Pilgrim mothers and fathers created Thanksgiving. However, the tradition of giving thanks was already part of the Native culture. Thanking the Great Spirit for the harvest and asking for protection during the winter was part of everyday life. When all the harvesting and preparation for winter was done, Native families gathered to share, celebrate and give thanks.
In fact, giving thanks and reflecting on the past year is a ritual shared by cultures worldwide. Our ancestors saw the autumn as a time when the veil between this world and the next was thin. They knew how quickly death could come, snatching away a field of ripe squash, or whisking away a loved one, too frail to battle illness. Gatherings of the past reflected this dichotomy of joy, heartache and fear. Rituals included giving thanks for plenty, along with asking that those who had died find peace and that the souls of “uneasy” spirits stay away.
Unfortunately, today, we have commercialized many of these traditions and rituals. Meaning has gone the way of frozen food and longer lives. Spiritual abuse has driven many of us away from our indigenous spiritual paths. Yet, deep within our souls, there is a call for something more that wants to be answered.
So, how do we answer the call to “prepare” as well as recognize who to thank? Go to your ancestors. What did they do? When did they do it? How did they do it? Take from that what touches your soul and heart. Leave behind that which does not resonate.
One of our family’s favorite traditions is the inclusion of roasted root vegetables. Our family has Celtic, German and Eastern European roots. The blend of potato, sweet potato, beets, carrots, parsnips and turnip remind us that we are a blend of nationalities, as are many in this country. Seeing all the colors mixed together reminds me that diversity in our lives and in the world is a blessing because each of us brings something wonderful to this life.
Another tradition we have kept over the years is to get a large piece of paper and have everyone (adults and kids) write what they are thankful for before we sit down to have our meal. Read it aloud together. This is actually quite enlightening when the kids are involved, as you never know what they will say!
One final thought: Remember that the holidays are not always joyful for people. Be mindful of those who have had deaths in the family, or who are alone for whatever reason. Sharing your day or your meal with them can make a world of difference. Remember, one does not need to be in a church building to give thanks, celebrate or ask for help. Also, traditions and rituals are only useful as long as they have meaning.
May the traditions and rituals of this holiday season bring us comfort, peace and community. May we share our plenty and enjoy the company of each other. May winter pass gently over us all with the hope of a verdant spring waiting to be found.
Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. An ordained interfaith minister, she graduated from The New Seminary. She has completed several post-graduate classes given by Harvard Divinity School. She is a board member of World AWAKE, Inc. and an active member of both Interfaith Ministers of New England, and the Interfaith Council of Franklin County. Rev. Neas can be reached at revlindaneas2013@gmail.com and https://www.facebook.com/revlinda neas/