
11/16/2023
We are officially in the season of winter festivals of lights. The season kicked off with Diwali (Nov 10-14) that is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. It is a celebration of light over darkness and good over evil. Burn the diya (a ritual dish filled with oil) for 5 days.
Next comes Chanukah (Dec 7-14), celebrated by Jews. It is a commemoration of the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Burn the candles of the menorah for 8 nights.
Advent (Dec 3, 10, 17, & 24), celebrated by Christians, occurs on the 4 Sundays before Christmas. It is the anticipation and preparation for Christmas. Burn a candle mounted in a wreath on each Sunday.
On the Winter Solstice (Dec 21), also known as Yule by pagans, a Yule log is burned in the fireplace. After it burns out a piece is saved to put in the following year’s Yule fire. The Yule log replaces the bonfires that pagans used to burn on the longest night of the year to welcome the return of the light beginning at dawn and continuing until Summer Solstice.
Lastly, Kwanzaa (Dec 26-Jan 1), celebrated predominately by Afro-Americans. It is an adaptation from African harvest festival traditions. Burn a candle in the kinara for each of the 7 nights.
And if that is not enough candle burning, get some angel chimes that rotate and ring little bells when the 4 candles under them are lit. Mostly a Western European custom, I remember these from my childhood.