Life Events Special Days
Twenty-Day
This custom originated within the school of Epicurean philosophy. Although Rational Hedonism eventually branched out, it has continued to honor Epicurus by what has evolved to be a monthly dinner party/"Thanksgiving"-style meal where friends and/or family are invited. Rational Hedonism is about enjoying the simple pleasures of life, which includes surrounding yourself with people you like and enjoying good company, good conversation, and good food. In a hectic world of everyone in the family on different schedules, parents and kids alike unable to tear away from texting for even a half hour, and fast food or microwavable dinners, Rational Hedonism says, "Stop! Time Out!".
Home cooked food doesn't contain the hydrogenated fats and super sugared or salted ingredients, the apartment/home is bathed in mouth-watering smells, Cell phones off, gradually unwinding and catching up and reconnecting with those in your circle.
Last Saturday in July - Many forces brought about the decline of the Greek world. The death of Alexander the Great was one. Yet no change from within proved more decisive than the decree of Theodosius, declaring Christianity the sole religion of the Roman Empire.
After Theodosius' declaration: truth was fixed, no more discussion allowed. This caused a splintering in the Church that continues today - from Roman Catholic to Greek Orthodox, to Protestant to everything after.
In the name of the “Holy” Church and for the glory of its God and Son, the wider world, began a descent into dark times — persecution, torture, conquest, and death. Greek and Roman nude statues were covered with fig leaves, writings burned, cultures erased. Original thinkers, scientists, inventors silenced as the long shadow of dogma spread.
So this day is a day of mourning. A day to remember the consequences when the morally righteous become the ruling elite and suppress individuality. A day to consider the voices never heard, the philosophers' manuscripts and their wisdom forgotten, the music never played, the discoveries never shared.
Yet, at the end of the day, we can once again gather, celebrate with music, jokes, food, and discuss . . . whatever we want.
Life Events
Childhood
Birth
For each of us, the world begins the day we are born. Every living person is here, against difficult odds. Every child comes from the combination of two sets of DNA, creating an entirely unique person. While every day of life is a privilege, the day yours started is most special. In Rational Hedonism, a newborn or adopted child is brought into the home with joy,
Traditionally, a newborn (including adopted babies) is lightly massaged using olive oil as soon as possible. Wreaths, once traditionally of olive leaves, were hung on the door or doorknob; but in modern times, wreaths can be made of any leaves (from ivy to palms). It is still common to entwine a woolen ribbon or hair band from the wreath if it is a girl, or some other small token to announce a boy.
Each child, a miracle of life, is born from the unique combination of two sets of DNA. In the path of Rational Hedonism, a newborn or adopted child is welcomed into the home with joy, surrounded by family and close friends. They are presented at the hearth fire of the home, given their name, and introduced to the rooms of the home. Raising a child is considered a sacred responsibility, their adaptive brain learning the language, ideology, culture, and beliefs of those around them. Though they are your child, one raises a child to be the future adult, carrying on the family line, history, wisdom, and traditions.
Amphidromia and Naming Ceremony
In ancient days, the amphidromia or celebration of the Hearth was on the baby's fifth day of life, and the Naming Day was on the tenth (after the baby showed itself healthy enough to survive). Nowadays, the two are combined. On the fifth day, the amphidromia is held. The head of the house invites close family and friends to the festive event, those they hope will have a positive, educational influence during their child's life. The baby is presented before the symbolic hearth fire of the home and the parent(s) officially announce the child's full name (as well as any personal meaning behind it).
The baby is introduced to the main rooms, publicly welcoming them as a member of the family home.
Those present understand that they are being entrusted with a sacred responsibility; a child's adaptive brain quickly picks up the language(s), ideology, culture and beliefs of these close people around them.
Unlike the popular Platonic view that your child belongs to the state, we believe there is no substitute for the loving parent who personally know best their child's (whether by birth, adoption or foster) personal, educational, psychological and creative needs. Parents raise a child with their values to be the future adult, as well as carrying on the family line and history, family wisdom and traditions.
Coming of Age Ceremony
Rite of passage - for girls it happens some time after the onset of menstruation and is similar to Quinceañera; for boys it takes place at age 14, and is a cross between Bar Mitzvah or Confirmation. A rite of passage that recognizes the boy is becoming a man, and needs to learn how to be a good man... a girl has much female knowledge to learn from the women.
Adult
Marriage
Weddings are a personal celebration between any couple who love and pledge a commitment to each other, and they get to define what that means. It is up to them on how casual, formal or cultural it will be.
In ancient Greek weddings the bride traditionally wore white, and that has been carried on through Victorian times as a symbol of purity and virginity. Because Rational Hedonism also developed in other cultures once it left Greece, it adopted an acceptance of more colorful garb. Whether in a sash, within the train, or on the dress or suit itself, there is often a splash of color, whether the bride's favorite color, or to match a color theme.
Another popular symbol is the use of crowns like royalty (still used in Orthodox Greek weddings), a ribbon connecting the couple, uniting the couple's individuality, their successful lineage, to unite in love, creating something more with the combined strength of two.
During the ceremony, both parents or close friends may accompany the bride on one side, either in solemn silence or with song, while the groom’s side does the same. This procession symbolizes two distinct families joining to form a new one, honoring both their histories and their future together.
On Death:
Rational Hedonism diverges from the traditional notions of an afterlife as seen in Zoroastrian and Abrahamic religions, which often involve some form of judgment and sorting of souls. Instead, Rational Hedonism posits a more naturalistic view: the cessation of brain activity marks the end of the individual’s consciousness and ability to “feel” sensations for any eternal bliss or torment, experiences and begins the process of the body’s physical breakdown. While there won’t be any eternal bliss, there will also be no eternal torment; instead, a natural return to the basic elements. This perspective emphasizes the finality of death, steering clear of the metaphysical and focusing on the tangible.
But, the anxiety and fears surrounding a death that happens at The End can interrupt and interfere with truly enjoying the moments of all the life you have now. You don’t have to wait for things to get better, or until you are rich, you can have a meaningful life whether it’s short or long. You have been gifted with the incredible opportunity to experience life - from simple pleasures to enjoying sunrises, sunsets, places of beauty, discovery, pets, love, family, friendships, your talents, learning, even work, living on your own terms. Rational Hedonism encourages making the most of the time we have, focusing on the here and now.
Our actions as well as inactions, the words we chose to use, simple acts of generosity or spending time with someone, our creations and memories, are the footprints we leave behind, we ultimately choose if the footprint of our life is good or bad. They shape the story of humanity and influence future generations.
We are mortal, we are human, we are fragile beings in this world. Too often, the life of someone we love is taken without warning or a chance to express our love, respect or feelings. We are all under the illusion we have more time, when one day, through tragedy or old age, we run out of time.
Hesperides Ceremonies
Why wait until someone special is gone before bringing loved ones together? Hesperides (Sunset) Ceremonies celebrate and highlight the fun and happiness, tears and sadness, anecdotes and life stories. Let people know how much they are loved, what they've meant to you, what they've given. It's not for dying, or the old, it can be for a major move, or life changing thing. For elderly R.H.ers, it can be a chance to give away special gifts, the emerald necklace and the story that goes with it to a granddaughter, signed books, figurines or family dishes. This is a much more gentler way of family then waiting until death and squabbling over things. This is done with love and allows the person the joy of giving and seeing the face of the one being given to, and is part of a letting go process for all. (Of course, some things won't actually be taken until later).
Celebration of Life
When death comes, it is a goodbye to someone loved, a presence in your life no longer there. In all history past, they did not exist, for a brief time their life here burned, then flickered, winked out, and now for all future to come, again do not exist. Rational Hedonists value life and mourn death, but ensure their loved ones are not forgotten, and memorialized in a fitting way.