One of my favorite things about the holidays is looking at decorations, especially lights. There is something magical about them glowing in the dark. The winter season is celebrated with lights for cultural or religious reasons. Every year, thousands celebrate the start of the season by watching the Christmas tree lightings at Rockefeller Center and the White House. Those lights remind us of our inner light and prompt us to be generous and kind to others, especially the less fortunate. For Christians, the holiday season prepares homes and hearts for Christmas Day, which celebrates the birth of the baby Jesus. Besides the display of a Nativity Scene in churches and homes, a star on the Christmas tree symbolizes the guiding light that brought the sages and the shepherds to this special child, whose teachings of love and justice as an adult would turn the first century world upside down.
Jews observe Hannukah by lighting a candelabra called a menorah. For them, this holiday signifies a victory over the Greeks who had occupied their land. A small army of Jews were able to reclaim their holy temple and restore it to its sacred use. The story goes that when it was time to light the menorah, there was only one container of oil, but it miraculously lasted for 8 days which proved the sovereignty and provision of their God.
The observance of Kwanza was created in the 1960’s. According to Britannica, the holiday was created by an academic, Dr. Maulana “Ron” Karenga, who observed the social and economic disparities between the Black and mainstream populations. He wanted to create a holiday that remembered and celebrated the heritage and values of the African people. It was not meant to compete with the other holidays, but to remind African Americans of their unique heritage and the values that they practiced in their homeland, which are still relevant today. They have a candleholder called a kinara and light candles for a period of 7 days to remember each value. There is also a period of gift exchange, but these presents are humble and homemade. Kwanza is a time of self-reflection and recommitment to the community.
One Buddhist holiday that occurs in December is Bodhi Day. It commemorates the spiritual enlightenment of their leader, Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, after he sat for many days under a bodhi tree. The day is to be observed with reflection, meditation, and mindfulness practice. Candles may be lit and lanterns hung in temples and homes to remind devotees to continue to seek enlightenment and avoid ignorance and suffering. There are many branches to the Buddhist tradition. This day is observed by the Mahayana branch of Buddhism, which is one of the largest, according to the website faithinspires.org.
We are drawn to the hope and illumination that those lights bring to us. Remember that the purpose of light is to stimulate our sight and make things visible. We need light to see our way and to do our work. We need light to expose problems so we can repair them. That light is physical and spiritual.
My prayer for you is that you find ways to ignite the inner light in your souls which will sustain you during hardships and challenges. Say a prayer, think of your blessings, find inspirational readings, be kind to yourself and spread that kindness to others. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the crowds “You are the light of the world (Matt 5:14).” He was telling them that they had the creative power to bring hope and healing to the people around them as they followed the way which pointed to God and his goodness. Sometimes, we can give that light. Other times, we may need to receive some light. I believe we all have that light within us that can brighten the way for ourselves and others. May you ignite that light with the spiritual practices which inspire you as you go about the holiday season.
