This week we celebrate
Thanksgiving. I think every culture in the world has some sort of celebration
in recognition of the bringing in of the harvest and rejoicing that there is
food in the barns for the winter months. In most traditions this takes place at
the end of the growing season rather than later in the fall as we, in America,
celebrate it.
For the Celtic Christians and
many other traditions, the harvest festival was a time to celebrate, and also
to share and ensure that others in the community were not hungry. It often came
in late summer-August or September. Like most harvest traditions, special foods
were associated with it. One is a kind of biscuit or scone called Bannock:
Pitcaithly Bannock1 cup flour
½ cup butter
¼ cup sugar
2 T. chopped almonds
2 T. mixed candied citrus peel
Set
oven to 325oF. Grease a baking sheet. Mix flour, butter, and sugar
to form a dough. Add the almonds and the peel, making sure they are evenly
distributed. Form a thick round on a lightly floured surface and prick all over
with a fork. Place on the baking sheet and bake for about 45-60 minutes. Allow
to cool and serve sliced thinly, buttered or with fruit jelly.
The Jewish festival of Sukkot
(Succoth), in the fall, is the celebration of the ingathering of the fruits of
the fields, and a reminder of the time in the wilderness. In Leviticus, Moses
tells the people, "On the first day you shall take the product
of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of
the brook" (Lev.
23:40), and "You shall live in
booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, in order that
future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths
when I brought them out of the land of Egypt" (Lev. 23:42-43).
By creating booths of the branches, the Jewish people are reminded of their
sacred history. They are made aware of
the thin time when God was present and led them in the wilderness wanderings
until they came to their new home. There are special foods for
Sukkot. Challah, the soft, egg bread braid is one, as is apple crisp.
The Celtic Christians, and the Jewish people, and we all celebrate God’s
providing for our needs during the harvest festivals of our lives. Whether we
call it Lughnasadh, Sukkot, or Thanksgiving we need to take a moment to
remember that God is near when we give Thanks and that there are those who are
less fortunate who need our care.
There is a prayer from the
Celtic book of prayers The Carmina
Gadelica that reminds us that God in Jesus Christ is in all things and that
we should give praise and thanks.
It were as easy for Jesu
To renew the withered tree
As to wither the new
Were it His will to do so.
To renew the withered tree
As to wither the new
Were it His will to do so.
(Antiphon)
Jesu! Jesu! Jesu! Jesu!
Meet it were to praise him.
Jesu! Jesu! Jesu! Jesu!
Meet it were to praise him.
There is no plant in the ground
But it is full of his virtue,
There is no form in the strand
But is full of his blessing
But it is full of his virtue,
There is no form in the strand
But is full of his blessing
(Antiphon)
There is no life in the sea
There is no creature in the river
There is naught in the firmament
But proclaims his goodness
There is no creature in the river
There is naught in the firmament
But proclaims his goodness
(Antiphon)
There is not bird on the wing,
There is no star in the sky
There is nothing beneath the sun,
But proclaims his goodness.
There is no star in the sky
There is nothing beneath the sun,
But proclaims his goodness.
(Antiphon)
I hope you have blessed Thanksgiving times with family and
friends. In this season there are many who are not as blessed as we are. Some
may even be our neighbors. Keep them in your prayers and perhaps take some kind
of action as your heart leads you.
Next week we will look at a Thin Time in the life of Jesus
himself.
