Thurman explains the mood, quality, and symbol of Christmas. This contrasts with viewing Christmas as merely a day on the calendar, or a commemoration of an event. He uses sharp imagery to describe each of these features. For example, the mood of Christmas is “an iridescent of sheer delight that bathed one's whole being with something more wonderful than words can ever tell.” The quality is “the calm purple of grapes.” The symbol is “the promise of tomorrow at the close of every day” and “that good is more permanent than evil.”

Part of the Collection, Religious & National Holidays

Tags: Christmas, mood, quality, symbol

Description by Erik Mattson

Recorded in WHDH-TV, Boston, Massachusetts

Citation: Thurman, Howard, “Christmas Meditation, 1975 February 13,” The Howard Thurman Digital Archive, accessed July 9, 2024, https://thurman.pitts.emory.edu/items/show/1266.