In a hearing before a court held to determine if Ethical Culture should be given tax-exempt status as a religion (the court ultimately decided in favor of Ethical Culture), the Judge asked NoVES Leader Jone Johnson Lewis, "Do you allow your members to celebrate Christmas (or any other winter holiday)? Leader Lewis's answer was: "How could we stop them?" How true! Ethical Culturists are a group of people coming from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds to join together in the belief in the worth and dignity of human beings. That belief does not require the giving up of family traditions and holidays. In fact, Ethical Culture and the Northern Virginia Ethical Society celebrates that diversity by celebrating Winter Festival.

In place of the usual platform meeting NoVES members come together to share their heritages and customs through story, song, and dance. At Winter Festival an observer might hear "Silent Night: and "The Dreidel Song", see the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy from the "Nutcracker" ballet, participate in a choral reading about the Winter Solstice, hear a poignant and funny story, and celebrate the unity of humankind in a candle lighting ceremony.

And what festival would be complete without a feast! A potluck luncheon consisting of both family favorites and traditional holiday foods is shared by everyone. All are welcome to join NoVES Sunday, December 21, at 11:00 am at Green Hedges School to participate in Winter Festival.

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