Christmas Advent & Midwinter Celebration with UPF Nederland

Christmas Advent & Midwinter Celebration songs, stories, poems & more - all contributions, inc. food, drink & finance welcome! Thursday, December 22, 20:00 uur; Amsterdam Zuid Long before the advent of the Christ child, the birth of Jesus, the “Son of God”, people celebrated the Winter Solstice, shortest day, “Rebirth of the Sun” (interestingly, worship of the sun often preceded the “religions of the Book”), which occurs, in the Northern hemisphere, December 21 to 23, this year, 2011, on Dec. 22, the day of our celebration. Interpretation of this event has varied, but most cultures observe a recognition of rebirth, with holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals & celebrations, often overtly religious.

Christmas was first celebrated on December 25 because it was the date of the Roman winter solstice upon establishment of the Julian calendar. It is thought that in fact Jesus was born in the first week of January, but the Roman Catholic church often chose to observe Christian Holy Days on the celebration days of the “Old Religion”, in a similar manner to building Christian churches on sites that were sacred to “pagans”: as a way of claiming that day or place for “Holy Mother Church”, and eradicating any trace of the old beliefs and ways.

The Universal Peace Federation seeks to go beyond the “tolerance” of Willem van Orange, admirable as that was in its day, and to involve itself in “cooperation” with those of all religions in seeking social justice; and to then go beyond that, in promoting and organizing the “celebration” of the goodness, love and beauty inherent in all people of goodwill and in the teachings and practices of all the great religions of the

world, including Native Shamanism and the New Religious Movements of our time. And beyond that again, to proclaim, without prejudice, that we are living in a unique, new time when we are called to “attendance” to the one of whom Isaiah prophesized (9:6): “for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

This Christmas advent, a song ‘’Wherever You Are’’ is being released in the UK. It is hoped it will become “No. 1” and raise millions for charities helping those wounded in battle and their families. Most of the members of the new “Military Wives” choir have husbands serving in Afghanistan. In our evening, we will show this choir (or, rather, a video!) and hope to also include something of how the people of Afghanistan, aspirationally renamed Qalbe Asia, the Heart of Asia, celebrate this time of year – as well as having Dutch songs from De Jordaan, Christmas carols, songs & poems reflecting on this time of year, including “the old year’s turning”, and “who knows what?” This evening is organized in partnership with Chris Cross Connections & The Taliesin Foundation.

All, of whatever age, colour, caste, religion, class, gender, nationality, “taal”, are invited to celebrate with us.

Het programma bevat tevens een introductie over de UPF, een toast op Wereldvrede, muziek en gelegenheid tot vragen stellen. En het nederlands, engels en misschien ook andere tallen! Zal er ook vloeibare en vaste verfrissingen. Deze avonden met sprekers zijn er in de regel elke laatste donderdag van de maand. Toegang: Gratis, but UPF Nederland is supported solely by private funding and any contributions / donations are welcome. Paper is particularly appreciated! ------------------------------------------------------------------ UPF-NL Dialoogcentrum, Argonautenstraat 1, 1076 KJ Amsterdam Zuid T. 020-7720838 & 06-84415841; upfnl@yahoo.com; www.upf.org - www.upf-nederland.nl Facebook/Universal-Peace-Federation-Nederland - facebook.com/#!/Argonautenstraat1