Here we are in the heart of a holiday season of magic, mystery, miracles and light. This season includes not just the Christmas holiday but Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice and even the celebration of the New Year. It is the time of greatest darkness, in the Northern Hemisphere at least, when the longing for the return of the light has filled people for millennia. If you think about it all these holidays involve light in some way. Candles are prominent for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas while New Year Eve has fireworks and the Winter Solstice has fire.
Magic, Mysteries and Miracles
Magic, mysteries and miracles are the other half of the holiday equation, something that fills me with delight as you probably know if you’ve read my other posts. The magic, mystery, miracles and light are intertwined for me. You have the birth of a child destined to be the Light of the World, oil for temple lights that lasted eight days even though there seemed to be enough for only one and ancient rites designed to bring the sun back from its southward fall. The New Year carries forth the idea of new starts, of the beginnings and endings that come with the changes inherent in magic and miracles. When that lit ball comes down the pole in Times Square it magically ends one year and starts another!
Holiday stories are some of the best
The author in me must have stories to read and for inspiration! Christmas and Hanukkah exist within their own magnificent stories of magical, miraculous mysteries found in the Scriptures. I am most familiar with Christmas and there are any number of Christmas stories. My favorites include A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd. On the mystery side how about Hercule Potroit’s Christmas by Agatha Christie? Like Thanksgiving, Christmas provides the perfect backdrop to funny and heartwarming family stories. Then again you could have a murder with the turkey carving knife or maybe a candlestick in the drawing room! I know there must be great stories about all of the holidays mentioned here. Anyone reading this might know of some.
And now to wrap it up
I definitely plan to read some Christmas stories over the next few days. Maybe even a Hanukkah or Winter Solstice story if I find one! Then too maybe I’ll write down some ideas for my own story. I also plan to simply enjoy this season of light, magic, mysteries and miracles and wish the same for everyone. The happiest of holidays whichever one(s) you celebrate and let there be light!
