FEATURE
A Season of Light Holiday traditions from around the world brighten up the coldest and darkest time of the year. By Suzanne Dreitlein
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nder normal circumstances, many different emotions can get packed into the winter holiday season. Perhaps it is a time of joy and fellowship, or it may be a time of quiet reflection and remembrance, or for some, it can be an emotionally challenging time. This year, things are not normal. We have been asked to adapt to new standards of safety and refrain from some of our usual gatherings and traditions. But this new normal has also presented us the opportunity to pause and ask ourselves, “Are holiday traditions intentional or a little autopilot? Are there new aspects to contemplate or traditions to adopt?” There is a lot of talk about what makes us different; what divides us. However, a surprising number of holiday traditions from various origins share a common theme: the transition from darkness to light. Candles, evergreens, contemplation, and singing are also seasonal practices from ancient times that have been incorporated into most modern religions and are activities that can be enjoyed alone or with small family groups. Fol-
QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ WINTER 2021
lowing are some of the traditions we are adapting for this holiday season. The Hindu celebration of Diwali (11/14) started off the season with a fiveday festival of light. To prepare for Diwali, celebrants give their homes a thorough cleaning—a good start to the season even for non-Hindus! Although large indoor gatherings for Thanksgiving were off the table for many this year, virtual gatherings meant everyone could fit in a Philly row housesized dining room. And that time spent in traffic could be devoted to exchanging family stories. A bonus of our new virtual
life meant we could use online scheduling to visit with everyone this year instead of having to choose one side over another. We often think of the holiday season as a time to be rushing around on the go, but this year there are simply fewer things to do. For Christians, the time before Christmas, called Advent (11/29-12/24), is a time of reflection and prayer. The previous “rushing around” time can transform into a season of contemplation. On St. Nicholas’ Day (12/6), German children—at least those who haven’t been abducted by Krampus—left their
