Christmas: One Last Look For 2007!

Since December has become the traditional time of annual feasting,parties and "Happy Holidays," I have done a great deal of thinking as to why it seems universally recognized as the season of lights.

Is there a purely physical connection between SAD (i.e. Seasonal Affective Disorder) and the special joy we get when we set aside a whole evening to "go to see the lights"?

First of all, I do recognize the correlation between the three major holidays of December is LIGHT! Hanukkah and Kwanzaa both have minoras as central to the celebration. Christmas has the Star of Bethlehem that often lands right up there on the top of the Christmas tree.

Secondly, for purely scientific reasons, the human body NEEDS sunlight. Sunlight is a major source of Vitamin C. Sunlight seems to activate the pleasure center in the brain. Sunlight is almost universally recognized as symbolic of God's pleasure.

(This is not necessarily so, any more than stormy and windy skies are symbolic of His displeasure.)

With this as background, I have come to believe that at least part of our enjoyment of lights in December is due to the fact during this month sunlight is at its lowest supply in the temperate 10-40 window of the Nothern latitudes,...the seat of the majority of the world's population.

Merry Christmas! again as we "...Celebrate the season of love and of LIGHT!"