Jews celebrate Hanukkah during the December darkness, ano

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here in the northern hemisphere, December plunges us into deepening darkness as the days grow shorter, culminating in the longest night of the year on December 21st. And for that reason, several major religions choose this time of year for celebrations of light.

For example, Pagans celebrate Winter Solstice as a sign of the return of the sun, since after the longest night on December 22, the sun begins its long journey back to us after a long, cold, dark winter.

Also near this time of year Hindus celebrate Diwali, colloquially known as the “festival of lights" because a common practice is to place small oil lamps around the home and yard. The lights are meant to help the goddess Lakshmi find her way into the homes of the faithful to bestow prosperity. Diwali also commemorates Rama's coronation, as the lamps are a welcome for the returning king.

Jews celebrate Hanukkah during the December darkness, anot

Here in the northern hemisphere, December plunges us into deepening darkness as the days grow shorter, culminating in the longest night of the year on December 21st. And for that reason, several major religions choose this time of year for celebrations of light.

For example, Pagans celebrate Winter Solstice as a sign of the return of the sun, since after the longest night on December 22, the sun begins its long journey back to us after a long, cold, dark winter.

Also near this time of year Hindus celebrate Diwali, colloquially known as the “festival of lights" because a common practice is to place small oil lamps around the home and yard. The lights are meant to help the goddess Lakshmi find her way into the homes of the faithful to bestow prosperity. Diwali also commemorates Rama's coronation, as the lamps are a welcome for the returning king.

Jews celebrate Hanukkah during the December darkness, ano

For example, Pagans celebrate Winter Solstice as a sign of the return of the sun, since after the longest night on December 22, the sun begins its long journey back to us after a long, cold, dark winter.

Also near this time of year Hindus celebrate Diwali, colloquially known as the “festival of lights" because a common practice is to place small oil lamps around the home and yard. The lights are meant to help the goddess Lakshmi find her way into the homes of the faithful to bestow prosperity. Diwali also commemorates Rama's coronation, as the lamps are a welcome for the returning king.

Jews celebrate Hanukkah during the December darkness, ano

Also near this time of year Hindus celebrate Diwali, colloquially known as the “festival of lights" because a common practice is to place small oil lamps around the home and yard. The lights are meant to help the goddess Lakshmi find her way into the homes of the faithful to bestow prosperity. Diwali also commemorates Rama's coronation, as the lamps are a welcome for the returning king.

Jews celebrate Hanukkah during the December darkness, ano

Jews celebrate Hanukkah during the December darkness, another religious “festival of lights” commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BCE after it had been desecrated by the Syrian King. After the Jews returned to Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple, they held a service of rededication – but there was only enough oil in the lamp to last one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted eight days, long enough for them to replenish their supply.

Kwanzaa celebrations, though not religious, are a growing tradition among African Americans. Kwanzaa centers on the Nguzo Saba, seven principles of black culture developed in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor of Pan-African studies and black cultural leader in the United States. These principles are unity, self-determination, collective work & responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Each evening, families and communities light one of the seven candles in a kinara and discuss the day's principle.

Likewise,