Give the Gift of Physical Therapy This Hanukkah & Christmas
As 2023’s festive season unfolds, we find ourselves again immersed in the rich holidays of Hanukkah and Christmas, each with its own unique history and significance. Both of these great traditions are joyously celebrated with lights and color, song and food, and often involve the giving of gifts. Let’s join this year’s festivities by taking an overview of the customs most commonly associated with these grand commemorations.
Hanukkah arrives first, this year starting the evening of Thursday, December 7, and ending Friday, December 15. The word Hanukkah derives from the Hebrew verb “to dedicate,” as this annual celebration memorializes when the Maccabean Jews regained Jerusalem and rededicated the temple. Hanukkah is observed for eight days and nights, beginning on the 25th day of the Hebrew calendrical month of Kislev. Lighting a candle each night on a nine-branched candelabrum, commonly called a menorah, and eating oil-based traditional foods like sufganiyot and latkes are for the remembrance of when one day’s supply of ritually purified oil lasted eight days. This feast is also known as the Festival of Lights.
Christmas is primarily observed on the 25th of December each year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, though the Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, extends the celebration timeframe for some observers. The holiday’s name, Christmas, is the shortened form of “Christ’s mass;” mass being a liturgical service in many forms of Western Christianity. Light-adorned trees decked with ornaments, and red & green decor are customarily on display here in the United States, along with merry music and of course, special food. If you’re looking for ideas & inspiration about creating a curated look in your home this holiday season, search no further than our own Sonia Mullis’ @designsbynina1 content on Instagram and Facebook.
With celebrants of both holidays seeking out the best gifts for their family and friends, don’t limit yourself to the common consumables and entertainment based presents. Think about options that will contribute to healthy habits for years to come. Technology has made it easier than ever to prompt and track simple fitness routines, or just being encouraged to move around more. Wearables like smartwatches and similar products are an easy addition to most people’s day-to-day lives that can assist them out of an overly sedentary lifestyle. Smartphone apps are a fine alternative for someone who doesn’t want to have to remember to wear a technology bracelet everyday, as most people are seldom far from their cell phones.
This time of year is not only about exchanging gifts but also about looking forward to the New Year with the hope that it will bring health and peace. Better health and the peace of mind that accompanies it doesn’t come automatically. The incredibly practical value of physical therapy under the care of a Licensed Physical Therapist is a gift that doesn’t lose interest or usefulness over time; rather it opens a person up to once again engaging in activities previously thought lost. That’s why our motto is “Helping You Move Without Pain.” Our Doctors and Assistants know how to identify root causes of back and joint pain and progressively strengthen you out of your pain & dysfunction without the use of opioid drugs or surgery. If you or someone you care about suffers needlessly, consider physical therapy as a gift this holiday season for them, or to yourself. Our friendly staff await your call at (941) 264-1414, email info@ptdoctorsfl.com, or direct message via our Contact page.