Bright lights of Christmas
Since Neolithic times, man has gravitated toward fire, especially during the dark days of winter when luminous celebrations set gloomy nights aglow. From Scotland’s Hogmanay to Nepal’s Balachaturdashi, light plays a starring role in holidays around the world, brightening skies, spirits – and travel itineraries – alike.
This shimmering stunner of a Christmas tree in Tokyo’s Shiodome – where marine life combines with festive illuminations in this year’s theme of White Christmas in the Sea – illustrates a universal holiday truth: in the dark days of winter, nothing is more welcome than a luminescent celebration.
A blazing Scottish new yearScots ring in Hogmanay on 31 December with a blazing celebration inspired by Gaelic and Viking traditions, which held that fire burned off the bad spirits of the old year and invited fresh spirits for the new. Today, revellers dance in torchlight processions, swing burning fireballs and burn a replica Viking ship, pictured here in a celebration in Edinburgh.
Bulgaria’s Christmas of caringEggnog, gifts and stockings rarely come into play for Orthodox Christians, who view Christmas as a time to fast, pray and care for the poor. Many Orthodox Christians –found predominantly in Belarus, Greece, Romania, Russia and Ukraine – celebrate the holiday on Epiphany (7 January) when they light a small fire of frankincense and palms (a religiously significant plant) to commemorate the wise men’s gifts to baby Jesus, and light candles to represent the light of Christ, seen here in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria.
A triumph of good over evil in IndiaOn a full moon night in late autumn, Hindus around the world light diyas, or oil lamps, to signify the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. One of the most important Hindu festivities, Diwali (which falls between mid-October and mid-November), sees celebrants shop, feast, clean their homes, dress in their finest and light fireworks. Pictured here, widows celebrate the festival of lights in Mathura, India.
A Jewish festival of lightsWhen a scarce supply of sacred oil miraculously burned for eight days in Jerusalem’s Holy Temple in the 2nd Century BC, the tradition of Hanukkah was born. Today, Jewish people observe the Festival of Lights – which may occur between late November to late December – by lighting one branch of a menorah, pictured here in Washington DC, each night for eight nights.
A crown of candles in ScandinaviaIn this Scandinavian holiday commemorating Saint Lucia, a Christian martyr known for her service to the poor, the eldest daughter in a family dresses up as in a white robe and glowing candle-decked crown to serve her parents mulled wine and Lucia buns, a traditional sweet pastry. St Lucia Day is celebrated on 13 December, the winter solstice in the old Julian calendar and a pagan festival of lights.
Fire fights ice in an old Gaelic holidayGot a case of the mid-winter blues? Take a cue from the ancient Gaelics, who waged a war against winter with bonfires, candles and torches of fire. The pagan festival known as Imbolc marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox – typically around 4 February – and encourages the rejuvenation of the land and the return of the sun. Fire festivals take place in locations throughout Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England, including the town of Huddersfield (pictured).
Iraqi Kurds burn away winterIts the budding blooms of spring rather than the cold of winter that ring in the New Year for celebrants of Persian or Zoroastrian descent, including Iraqi Kurds, seen here celebrating with torches in Akri, Iraq. The ancient holiday of Nowruz falls on 21 March, the first day of spring, and is celebrated with feasts and bonfires, a tribute to the fire-worshipping origins of Zoroastrianism and a means to burn away sins in order to usher in a fresh start. Travellers can ring in Nowruz in countries such as Iran, Armenia, Turkey, Russia and Georgia.
A Nepalese night of worshipIn Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath Temple (the most sacred temple of god Shiva), Hindu pilgrims celebrate the holy night of Balachaturdashi in late November or early December by holding an all-night oil lamp vigil to pray for deceased relatives. Nightlong chants and dances pay homage to the god.
Tamil India’s full moon festivalAn ancient feud between Hindu gods Brahma and Vishnu form the foundation of Karthigai Deepam, one of the oldest and most important Tamil holidays, celebrated on the night of a full moon in late November or early December in South India. Hindu devotees light oil lamps, pictured here in Bangalore, as an auspicious symbol to ward off evil spirits and usher in prosperity.
A uniquely African American holidayA pan-African heritage, a common history of slavery and a Swahili phrase (matunda ya kwanza, meaning “first fruits of the harvest”) gave rise to Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration of African-American culture, first celebrated in the United States in 1966. The holiday focuses on seven principles including unity, creativity and faith, represented by a seven-pronged candelabra, or kinara, seen here in a Kwanzaa celebration in Washington DC. Travellers to DC can visit cultural exhibitions, such as Spirit of Kwanzaa, an annual celebration held at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that spotlights African dance, song and poetry.
Leave a reply