The days surrounding the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere is a time when many cultures celebrate and observe days of significance. The exact dates shift, depending on the various calendars used to determine when they fall, so every year is different. This year, Read Alberta explores some of the Alberta-published books that either feature this year’s seasonal holidays and holy days, or touch on aspects that underpin the celebrations and observances.

Bohdi Day (December 8)

A central tenet of Buddhism is striving to find that which shines beyond the impermanence of our earthly existence, and many Buddhists observe Bohdi Day, the day Lord Buddha reached enlightenment, or spiritual awakening. However, other Buddhists prefer to observe the day on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which will fall in early January 2025.

In Imperfection (Athabasca University Press), Patrick Grant argues that an awareness of imperfection, defined as both suffering and the need for justice, drives us to an unrelenting search for perfection, freedom, and self-determination. The twenty-one brief chapters of Imperfection develop this governing idea as it relates to the present situation of the God debate, modern ethnic conflicts, and the pursuit of freedom in relation to the uncertainties of personal identity and the quest for self-determination.

Yule/Solstice (December 21 – January 1)

Yule is an ancient Germanic pagan holiday that celebrates the rebirth of light after the winter solstice. Yuletide is a time of purging and reflection; a time to look forward to the new year and new beginnings. The celebration of renewal at this time of year is part of many spiritual traditions, including those of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island.

In Here Is Where We Disembark (Freehand Books), Clea Roberts writes poems about every season, including winter solstice. A perfect book to curl up with by the fireside and experience the winter moon’s second-hand light pooling in the tracks of tree squirrels, hear again the sound of migrating birds—a perfect solstice gift.

In Spirit Gifting: The Concept of Spiritual Exchange, respected Elder Elmer Ghostkeeper takes us on a journey of rediscovery where we gain a new perspective on the world we take for granted. Ghostkeeper tells the story of his attempt to reclaim and reawaken to his Indigenous worldview on his own terms with his traditional knowledge intact.

Christmas (December 25)

Christmas is the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrations start on Advent Sunday (four Sundays before Christmas Day) and continue until Epiphany, which occurs on the twelfth night after Christmas.

In the spirit of the author’s Ghost Stories of Christmas, Haunted Christmas (Lone Pine Publishing) continues the tradition of sharing captivating and heartwarming tales of ghosts and angels during a magical time of year. Gather together and enjoy these enchanting stories of the true spirits of the season. Christmas Jokes for Kids (Folklore Publishing) is a collection of jokes and funny stories that kids (and adults) can tell around the tree.

Joan Donaldson Yarmey and Gwen Donalson’s Single Bells (BWL) is a Christmas romance: Simone Bell-Watson owns a literary agency in Vancouver, B.C. It is just before Christmas and she has discovered her husband is cheating on her. This sends her into a frenzy of starting a divorce, changing her name, selling their condo, and moving in with her mother. She also has to contend with her sister trying to set her up on dating sites to get her back in the dating scene. Join the sisters and their mother in this holiday romantic comedy as Simone deals with her new life, Serena dates a number of men, and Patricia flirts and freely talks about sex.

Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture. Each day of the festival is dedicated to celebrating one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); Imani (Faith).

As with many other spiritual traditions, it is a time for reflection on how to carry these principles through into your everyday life. You can find elements of these principles in many books by African Canadians, including Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike’s, there’s more (University of Alberta Press). In Uche’s poems, he challenges the oppressive systems that alienate us from one another and the land. Carefully built lyric meditations combine beauty and ugliness, engaging with violence, and displacement, while seeking to build kinship and celebrate imagination.

Suzette Mayr’s Moon Honey (NeWest; now available in an elegant new landmark edition) is a modern, magical tale. Carmen and Griffin, young and white, are goofy, head-over-heels in love. When Carmen turns into a black woman, Griffin thrills at a love turned exotic. But Carmen’s transformation means trouble for Griffin’s racist mother, already struggling with a new lover and a husband nicknamed God. The question is, can we rely on love to save the day?

Hanukkah (December 25 – January 2)

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, starts at sundown on December 25 and continues until sundown eight days later. Sigal Samuel’s The Mystics of Mile End (Freehand Books) features a Jewish family in the Mile End neighbourhood of Montreal — the children go to Hebrew School and synagogue and learn the Torah from their next-door neighbour Chaim Glassman, a Holocaust survivor. The plot revolves around elements of Jewish mysticism and explorations of contemporary Jewish identity are central to the story Four distinct voices weave together the tale of a dysfunctional Montreal family obsessed with climbing the Kabbalah’s Tree of Life. This literary debut by Jewish Daily Forward editor Sigal Samuel is reminiscent of Nicole Krauss’s The History of Love and Myla Goldberg’s Bee Season.

Chasia’s Enchantment Expanded (Durvile & UpRoute) is more than just a book; it’s an invitation to live with greater love, practice mindfulness, and contribute to global peace and understanding among all nations. This new edition features a fresh selection of inspiring poems and meditations, along with vibrant full-colour artwork. It includes poems specifically aimed at combating antisemitism, furthering the message of unity and acceptance. Through the timeless teachings of the Torah and Kabbalah, the book explores virtues like kindness, compassion, humility, and self-assurance. These powerful themes guide readers toward a deeper understanding and appreciation of world peace and international harmony.

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