On the anniversary of Newtown, and with our holiday lights twinkling once again in the moonlight, it felt right to repost the piece I wrote shortly after the school shootings in Connecticut last year…
“Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.” — Desiderius Erasmus
My Jewish husband does a good job with Christmas lights. I can’t say he looks forward to it. On the contrary, he puts it off as long as possible. But once a critical mass of houses on the street are plugged in for the holiday season, he’ll dutifully dig out the boxes from the storage room and set up the ladder.
He’s developed a complex system of wrapping the limbs of our dogwood trees in white lights, tacking another string around the portico, hanging icicles across the carport, and giving a final splash of illumination to the bushes. In the early years of our marriage, I’d weigh in on visual imbalances in his design choices. But now he’s got it down and I’ve let go of micromanaging.
I take care of the holiday decorating inside the house, starting with the lights on the Christmas tree. More lights are hung on garland, one expanse draped over the stair banister, another framing the kitchen window. Candles are interspersed everywhere, including on the mantel, where they bookend the menorahs and Christmas décor sharing the space.
My husband and I each have one Jewish and one Christian parent, and grew up with both traditions. But since Judaism is passed down through the mother’s line, he is “officially” Jewish, while I am not. Since I believe that all religions are pointing to the same truth anyway, I’m not concerned with labels. We embrace the breadth of our heritage by celebrating all of it.
While we have an array of Jewish and Christian symbols displayed in our home over the holidays, the lights are what tie it all together. The lights point to the commonality of the message.
And I’m not only talking about Judaism and Christianity. Festivals of light have been around since pagan times, and continue to this day across religions and cultures. Hinduism’s festival of light, Diwali, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness with lamps and fireworks. The Lunar New Year, Kwanzaa, and Santa Lucia Day are other examples of holidays celebrating light during the darkest time of the year in the northern hemisphere.
Indeed, it’s “the light”–in every meaning of the word–that we celebrate around the winter solstice. The website souledout.org puts it this way:
“Winter Solstice holidays have been with us for thousands of years, begun at the dawn of agriculture among people who depended upon the return of the sun. Many of these holidays celebrate light literally, but for many, there is also the symbolic meaning of light ~ Wisdom.”
I’d go further than that. Light is one of the oldest and most meaningful symbols around. No matter what our religious or cultural background (unless you are of the vampire persuasion), we all love light. In literature and paintings throughout history, light represents not only wisdom, but also rebirth, goodness, purity, hope, the Holy Spirit, faith, Jesus (“the light of the world”), life-giving energy, well being, and joy.
And we need the light more than ever this holiday season in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut tragedy. Like millions of other people in the United States and around the world, not a day has gone by since the shootings that my heart hasn’t broken all over again for those families.
I hadn’t realized the weight of it all until I got up a few days ago on my usual schedule, long before the sun was up. I padded down the hallway towards the stairs to let the dog out. Something felt different, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
It was the light–the light glowing on the trees in the front yard, spilling through the windows into the darkness of the house. It almost felt like a reassuring caress, that hint of brightness that met me in the hallway. My spirit lifted for the first time since the Newtown news broke on December 14th.
I decided then and there to do what I could to put the power of the holiday to work. I’m singing Christmas carols unabashedly, baking cookies with gratitude, and watching White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life for the umpteenth time.
I am filled with Christmas spirit and holiday spirit writ large. I’m choosing to be happy to honor those families, hoping to shine a light and disperse the darkness, rather than letting the darkness prevail.
So as Somebody Important once said, let there be light!
Happy holidays, everyone!
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Mi Young says
It is wonderful to read for the second time. Your message feels a bit more assuring than the first time. Yes, the light is more powerful than the darkness and yes, we each need to make small steps towards the light.
On a personal note, our new granddaughter who came into our life recently has a name meaning “Sun”.
Martha says
The light will always be more powerful than the darkness, Mi Young. So glad you enjoyed the post the second time around. With yet another school shooting in Colorado on the anniversary of Newtown, we have to keep this message going. Love love LOVE that your new granddaughter’s name means “Sun”! What a gift to the world! Happy holidays to you, my friend. ~ Martha
jindra says
Martha, gratitude spills from your beautiful holiday article… thank you so much for the reminder. Am sending extra love towards all those who have lost anyone this year. Love, J
Martha says
Thanks for the kind words, Jindra. I’m afraid tragedy will always be part of the human experience to one degree or another, even during the holidays. Those of us blessed to be sailing in calm waters (however temporary that may be) can help to alleviate the pain of those suffering through love, awareness, presence, and transmuting negative energy with their own positive flow. xxoo Martha
Francine says
Martha
Great reminder to remember the good and foster the positive in a busy time of year. We often forget what we are celebrating and get caught up in the “how” we are going to celebrate it. Im going to enjoy my time with friends and family and remember the reason for the season! Thanks:)
Martha says
Wise words from a wise woman — thank you Francine! I believe very deeply that we’re all connected. Every little volt of positive energy benefits the whole beautiful mess of us. Happy holidays! ~ Martha
Caroline EPPINGER says
Thank you so much for all the Special thoughts that you share with us throughout the year.
You are right light is a sign of hope, there is no life without light.
I will think of you lighting each candle on our three meter high Christmas tree in Sermange
Very happy, peaceful and “light full ” holiday
Martha says
Happy holidays, Caroline, and thank you so much for your lovely comment. Your Christmas tree sounds magnificent! Could you send a photograph? Wishing you a holiday of light, warmth, and happiness. (And please have a Gluehwein for me at the Christmas market — I miss the magic of cold, snowy nights in Europe sipping hot mulled wine under the stars!) xxoo Martha
cj says
The aqua-colored lights without any other colors to sully them up really get me. They always have. A thoughtful and peaceful post, Martha. Have a Merry one!
Martha says
Wonderful to hear from you, CJ! Hope all is well in the land of the Great Jolly Hoombah and that you and Tammy are enjoying the holiday season. I like blue lights too, btw. We already invested in the white ones years ago and are too cheap to switch. xxoo Martha