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What do you make of the contrast between St. John of the Cross and "the dark night of the soul" and the images of light we get during Advent, especially this week in the Sunday gospel and the celebration of St. Lucy?

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What similarities do you see among the December celebrations of Advent, St. Nicholas Day, Hanukkah and St. Lucy's Day

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similarities:
- sometimes Christmas and Hanukkah can be the same day
- presents are often given
- there are traditional foods eaten
- roots come from people courageously and controversially practicing their faith
- perseverance in faith when other things around you are falling apart

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The similarities are the celebration with candles, and the foods they eat

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The similarities are singing and lots of food celebrations. Christmas and Hanukkah can also be the same day sometimes, and all of these days occur close to each other.

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The December celebrations all have regional variations. St. Nicholas Day has different stories associated with him. Hanukkah has different food for different regions. St. Lucy's day also has different foods.

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All the holidays this time of year celebrate hope, joy, and light. They are days for giving and celebrating. Advent, St. Nicholas Day, Hanukkah, and St. Lucy's day all revolve around these things and have many traditions associated with them.

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Similarities for Advent,  Hanukkah, St. Nicholas Day and St. Lucy's Day:
-Advent, Hanukkah, and St. Lucy's day revolve around candles during the darkest times of the year.
- Just like Advent, Hanukkah uses candles and has a system for lighting them like how we light our advent candles every Sunday.
-All of these days have certain foods that people eat and are influenced by different cultures and traditions

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the similarities between the December celebrations are how they originate from similar religions and all come from a person or big event that started the tradition. they all have big productions and are very popular and give gifts

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the December celebrations have many similarities. many involve present being given and received. also, they are all about happiness and joy. food is also a big part of all the holidays as well as preparation.

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St. John of the Cross was cast into a dungeon and plunged into darkness. St. Lucy, a saint who's eyes were gouged out, was plunged into darkness through this, but is portrayed with candles and light. Jesus acted through John to bring good out of the darkness by allowing John to write poetry. He brought light to Lucy's darkness through the images of the candles.

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Some similarities I see between all the winter celebrations is there is some sort form of light involved. In all the celebrations, candles are used as part of the celebration. During Advent, a candle is lit every Sunday, during Hanukkah, 8 candles are lit in correlation with the story about the oil, and during St Lucy day, a girl while wear a candles atop her head during the celebration.

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Although St. John's statements about "the darkness of the soul" seem contradictory to the joyful atmosphere of Advent, it's also important to remember that Advent is a time of reflection and dedication before the new year. In the middle of joyful festivals, it's important to reflect on your soul and search to cleanse the darkness that inhabits part of your should before the new year leading into lent and Easter.

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Some similarities in December celebrations are that many of them involve candles. They also have similar origins.

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Some similarities are that there is a form of light involved, giving gifts, there are special foods you eat, there are songs sung, and each holiday varies between regions.

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The similarities between Advent and Hanukkah is both ight candles advent its one a week but Hanukkah is one a day. Also they both involve giving people presents

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My insights on Hanukah are that it is a beautiful holiday for the Jewish people. My family friends are Jewish and they seem to always be excited for this time of year.

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Some similarities of the December celebrations are the candles, food and the traditions. The December celebrations bring forth joy and love between our families and friends.

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Some similarities are the foods and celebrations, also the different decors like candles. It seems to be the most fun time and celebrating love and joy.

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Similarities are gifts or small presents, baking and eating or preparing to, candy, gingerbread houses from Lucy's day compare to December celebrations, songs and singing, candles, and being full of joy and celebrations.