Let There Be Light

Extravagant holiday lights on North 81st Street

I appreciate the holiday lighting displays in some yards and neighborhoods. . . a gift of light to the world during this most dark season of the year.  I have not yet hung lights this year.  I kept last year’s string of white icicle lights hanging until they burned out in mid-year.  I haven’t decided whether to hang lights this year.  If I do, they will be LED lights.

A single candle brings the light of the season to our home.

Candle in front of a favorite Christmas card from two decades ago

  

So absent the light strings, I lit a single candle on our fireplace mantle.  It is amazing that one small flame fills the room with the soul of the Christmas holidays.

I like what Garrison Keillor has to say about Christmas lights:

“Lighting. It made Garbo a star and it can make your Christmas. Winter is the dark time, so you want Christmas to be brilliant and sparkly areas. Outdoors, the shadows lengthen, wolves close in around the brave little house, but put a candle in the window —- voila! Drama! It’s the Little Match Girl! Lights! Illuminate! A pool of light on the serving table. The tree lit up with colored bulbs. Candles everywhere, dozens of them. If necessary, hold a small flashlight between your knees to give your face that irresistible glow. Smile. Show teeth. Shine. ” 
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/features/deskofgk/970908_landsend.shtml