From our newsroom to your homes, the Great Bend Tribune wishes everyone in the Golden Belt and beyond a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays too!

We won’t publish a paper on Christmas or New Year’s Day. Most of our staff will be spending time with their families and we hope you are able to do the same.

Our next edition (after the Dec. 23 edition this is written for), on Saturday, Dec. 27, will feature the Year in Review. As we reflect on this year’s stories, from local triumphs to everyday joys, we’re reminded of the incredible spirit of our community. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives. May your holidays be filled with warmth, laughter, and the bright hope of the season.

This truly is a season of holidays, so people should take no offense if someone wishes them Happy Holidays. Monday was the last day of Hanukkah, which started on Dec. 15. Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 is Kwanzaa. Yule 2025 fell on Dec. 21, coinciding with the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, marking the rebirth of the sun and the start of longer days. The Yule celebration also goes through Jan. 1. 

There are many December holidays; Dec. 26 is Zarathosht Diso, celebrated by Zoroastrians, and Dec. 8 was Bodhi Day, also known as Rohatsu, celebrating the day the Buddha – Siddhartha Gautama - is said to have achieved enlightenment. There is even a secular holiday, Festivus, made up for an episode of “Seinfeld” and celebrated on Dec. 23.

Of course, Dec. 25 marks the first day of Christmas, which is the “reason for the season” for 2.6 billion Christians worldwide. By some traditions, there are 12 days of Christmas. We know them for the cumulative gift-giving song. The gifts represent religious symbols:

Day 1 (Dec. 25): 1 Partridge in a Pear Tree (Jesus Christ)

Day 2 (Dec. 26): 2 Turtle Doves (Old & New Testaments)

Day 3 (Dec. 27): 3 French Hens (Faith, Hope, Charity)

Day 4 (Dec. 28): 4 Calling Birds (Four Gospels)

Day 5 (Dec. 29): 5 Golden Rings (First Five Books of Bible)

Day 6 (Dec. 30): 6 Geese A-Laying (Six Days of Creation)

Day 7 (Dec. 31): 7 Swans A-Swimming (Seven Sacraments)

Day 8 (Jan. 1): 8 Maids A-Milking (Eight Beatitudes)

Day 9 (Jan. 2): 9 Ladies Dancing (Nine Fruits of Holy Spirit)

Day 10 (Jan. 3): 10 Lords A-Leaping (Ten Commandments)

Day 11 (Jan. 4): 11 Pipers Piping (Eleven Faithful Apostles)

Day 12 (Jan. 5): 12 Drummers Drumming (Twelve Points of Apostles’ Creed) 

One day we don’t usually stop to celebrate is Dec. 15. On that date in 1791, the Bill of Rights – the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution – was ratified. The First Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. In our great nation, people are free to celebrate any holiday they choose, or not.

One popular Christmas song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono begins, “So this is Christmas ...” It’s title is “Happy Xmas (War is Over).” Released in 1971 after more than two years of peace activism protesting the war in Vietnam by the famous couple, it has a political message. John and Yoko also rented billboard spaces in major cities to display the message “WAR IS OVER! If You Want It - Happy Christmas from John & Yoko.”

There’s no need to take offense at any sincere holiday wishes. A war on Christmas? As the song says:

“And so happy Christmas (War is over)

For black and for white (If you want it)

For yellow and red ones (War is over)

Let’s stop all the fight (Now)

Susan Thacker is editor of the Great Bend Tribune. Contact her at sthacker@gbtribune.com.