Today’s Film: The Great Escape
On the surface, this may not seem like a Christmas film, but many in Britain will sit down to watch it during the holidays, mostly because it is guaranteed to be on at least one channel at some point! In much the same way as Dinner for One has become popular holiday viewing in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Norway despite having no relation to Christmas, so has The Great Escape become synonymous with the holidays for many in Britain. The 1963 film tells the story of a group of prisoners of war attempting a daring escape from a German POW camp and stars some true greats of the silver screen: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, Richard Attenborough, and Donald Pleasence to name a few!
Today’s Tradition: Soyal, United States of America (Native American)
Soyal is a winter solstice ceremony celebrated by the Zuni and Hopi Native American tribes in the southwestern United States. Held around December 21, the shortest day of the year, it marks the return of the sun, the beginning of a new cycle of the Wheel of the Year and involves rituals to ensure the sun’s strength and the fertility of the earth. The ceremony includes dances, prayers, and offerings.
