Why do festivals of light happen in winter

Regardless of what we celebrate, we all yearn for a bit of light in the darkness, which holiday lights can share as they appear on the empty branches of trees, in windows, and on the eaves of many homes across our towns and cities. In Canada and other northern countries, where daylight dwindles in the winter, these lights help to illuminate an otherwise cheerless time of year, and regardless of our faith and heritage, we can all be happy for that.

Molly Rookwood is a freelance editor and grammar-enthusiast based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She can be reached at mollyrookwood gmail. Would you like to read more of our language and editing blogs? Site Design by OmesaCreative. Client Login. The Editing Company Inc. Telephone: Recent Posts. Providing Feedback for Authors: How During Yi Peng, hundreds of lit lanterns are simultaneously released into the sky.

You can find out more, and see pictures of these festivals on Wikipedia and on the Little Adrift blog. Further details on our Hanukkah calendar page. A young woman is elected to represent Saint Lucia; she wears a crown of candles and leads a procession of white-robed women, singing traditional songs and each holding a candle.

Saint Lucia was an Italian martyr, but the name is also similar to Lussi, a female demon or witch who in pre-Christian times was thought to ride through the air during the night of Further details on the Sweden. Candles and twinkly lights are a Christmas tradition, perhaps recalling pre-Christian midwinder festivals, but also linking with the star that the Magi followed to find the infant Jesus. Read more on our Christmas Day calendar page , and our Festive inspiration article. Have we missed out any important festivals of light?

Let us know in the comments box below. The photo at the top of the page is Candles by Luca Bruno on Flick. Stay updated Sign up to the monthly Global Dimension newsletter containing resources, news, events and other exciting updates from Global Dimension. In Peru, like the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, the winter solstice is celebrated in June. Before the Spanish conquest, the Incas fasted for three days before the solstice. Before dawn on the fourth day, they went to a ceremonial plaza and waited for the sunrise.

When it appeared, they crouched down before it, offering golden cups of chicha a sacred beer made from fermented corn. After the conquest, the Spaniards banned the Inti Raymi holiday, but it was revived in the 20th century with mock sacrifices and continues today. For the Zuni, one of the Native American Pueblo peoples in western New Mexico, the winter solstice signifies the beginning of the year, and is marked with a ceremonial dance called Shalako.

With that signal, the rejoicing and dancing begin, as 12 kachina clowns in elaborate masks dance along with the Shalako themselves—foot-high effigies with bird heads, seen as messengers from the gods. After four days of dancing, new dancers are chosen for the following year, and the yearly cycle begins again.

Like the Zuni, the Hopi of northern Arizona are believed to be among the descendants of the mysterious Anasazi people, ancient Native Americans who flourished beginning in B. In the Hopi solstice celebration of Soyal, the Sun Chief takes on the duties of the Zuni Pekwin, announcing the setting of the sun on the solstice.

In South India, meanwhile, Diwali honors the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura, who had imprisoned 16, women in his palace and meted out harsh punishments to any of his subjects who dared stand up against him. Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, three minority religions in India, have their own Diwali stories.

For Sikhs, whose religion arose in the late 15th century as a movement within Hinduism that is particularly devoted to Vishnu, Diwali commemorates the release of the 17th-century guru Hargobind after 12 years of imprisonment by Mughal emperor Jahangir.

Jains, whose ancient religion dates back to the middle of the first century B. And Buddhists, whose religion emerged in the late 6th century B. Beyond these stories, Diwali is also a celebration of the Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune, Lakshmi. Today, Indian businesses still consider Diwali the first day of the financial new year. What most have in common , though, are the abundance of sweets, family gatherings, and the lighting of clay lamps that symbolize the inner light that protects each household from spiritual darkness.

But generally, each of the five days of Diwali has its own significance. On the first day of Diwali, people pray to the goddess Lakshmi, bake sweets, and clean their homes—which they decorate the next day with lamps and rangolis , designs made on the floor out of colored sand, powder, rice or flower petals. Devotees also set ablaze the lamps they had displayed the day before. For many celebrants, the fourth day of Diwali marks the new year and a time to exchange gifts and well wishes.

Shoppers take advantage of the sales and communities across India and across its diaspora host small fairs. This year, however, the coronavirus pandemic continues to upend these celebrations. Some temples will be streaming services online, while family gatherings will be more intimate than usual—if they happen at all. Meanwhile, New Delhi has once again banned the use of firecrackers this year in hopes to mitigate the harmful effect of air pollution on human respiratory systems, which are particularly vulnerable during the pandemic.