Light a candle for what makes your heart feel full and held.
You deserve that.
When December begins, many of us know there are a series of festive days awaiting us that include family, food, and lots of fun. But while some days continue to have their origin at (somewhat!) center, some celebrations might have lost that attention to their origins as time has gone by. One common observable theme that emerges in this season are candles and lights.
Candles are very present in cultural & religious settings because candles symbolize the flickering faith, which no matter how small, dispels the darkness it is surrounded by. As the holiday seasons begin, many remember those who are no longer with us and light candles at gatherings to represent their presence still felt among us. Places that work to raise awareness about intimate partner violence hold annual light ceremonies to send a powerful message of solidarity and support to survivors of assault and violence.
Posadas Navideñas or traditional Christmas parties in many parts of Latin-America begin in December and continue through Parrandas (more holiday parties) that are celebrated up to 8 days after the Dia de Reyes, or Epiphany, which is January 6th. In these festivities, candles are lit, instruments are played and movement from home to home is often included.
Advent, which is celebrated the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas, has 4 candles (one lit per week) lit in representation of joy, hope, peace, and love as markers for the Christmas season.
Hanukkah lights eight candles (one per day) using its center “helper” or Shammash candle which sits in the middle of the Menorah every evening of Hanukkah to commemorate a miraculous 8 day where the menorah of the temple remained lit during a successful revolt against oppression.
Between December 26 and January 1st Kwanzaa celebrates African roots and is observed by individuals of various communities to mark the joyful first fruits of harvest, which might bring unity, creativity, self-determination, finances, purpose and faith with it.
In this holiday season, we invite you to join the festivities and maybe create your own reason for lighting a candle if one of the traditional reasons does not feel in alignment with your heart. It is an opportunity to think about what your heart and mind might want to celebrate and commemorate as the world around us yearns for attention and heavy advertisement might compete for our attention.
Written by Alexandra Zareth
Comments