When it comes to pronunciation, there's no difference between holidays and holy-days.
But I sometimes ponder on how the change from letter "y" to letter "i" happened.
Maybe, it was a gradual fading, a small change that reflected a larger cultural shift in how we view these sacred times.
I think in our modern age, the spirit of the holidays has more or less evolved into something more inclusive but perhaps less profound.
Or into a shared cultural experience that can also be a deeply personal spiritual one, depending on how we choose to engage with it.
For the most part, what's more seen or pronounced is this shift from vertical relationship with the divine to horizontal connections with each other. One is definitely neither better nor worse, but undeniably different.
Some find depth in traditional religious observances, others with quiet personal rituals, and still others through the warmth of community gatherings.
If you're like me, you'll probably try combining all three just to experience this multiplicity of depth seeking and how it reflects our era's relative understanding that spirituality and celebration can take many forms.
An Expanded View Of Meaning
Arguably, both can also happen at the same time. Horizontal connections with each other can be experienced through intersecting cultures and beliefs.
We see this in the way families blend different cultural traditions, especially when the family is multicultural.
This is also evident in how communities create inclusive celebrations that honor multiple faiths.
I think it's more than just an added value, since we live in an age with more available options than ever before.
Options when used responsibility gives us the ability to craft celebrations that honor both tradition and innovation, as in embracing contemporary understanding while still respecting ancient wisdom.
Now I can choose to light candles for both remembrance and ambiance, and go to gatherings for both worship and celebration.
Now, the sacred and secular are less of an opposing forces but more so like complementary energies that can enrich each other.
This could well be a silver lining of our modern age, which is increasingly been criticized for superficially and speed.
The silver lining is the ability to hold multiple truths, multiple traditions, and multiple meanings in the same moment.
In this way, we haven't so much lost the 'holy' in our holidays. Because we have expanded its definition to encompass a broader spectrum of human experience and spiritual expression in the modern age.
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