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!"
