Yule marks the return of the light, recognizing on the longest night of the year that the circle of the seasons has reached its darkest point and soon the sun will return to light our way. In this aspect, Yuletide observances have a great deal in common with the celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ta Chiu and countless other religious and cultural festivals. All of these are essentially solstice celebrations, and all include traditions of light, in the form of glowing bulbs, burning candles, and blazing bonfires. There are so many celebrations of light throughout the world that it would be difficult to focus on any one area. Instead, I offer a selection of global and local destinations which are particularly noted for their festivities of light.
On the 8th of December, Seville, Spain is the site for a dance called Los Seises, or "The Dance of Six." Dressed in elaborate costumes, six boys perform a slow ritual dance in front of the city's gothic cathedral, lit by the flames of flickering torches. The origins of this dance are unclear, although it is known to have been performed since the middle ages.
In Sweden, December 13th is the Feast of St. Lucia, also known as Little Yule. In homes throughout the country, the family's eldest daughter wears a crown of seven candles secured in an evergreen wreath upon her head. At the first light of dawn, dressed in a white dress with a red sash, "Lucia" serves coffee and sweet buns to family members still abed, bringing light to the early morning darkness.
In the city of Zurich, Switzerland, on December 24th, the district of Limmat has the "River of Light." On this night, children from all over the city bring small homemade boats carrying candles to the banks of the Danube River. The candles are lit and the boats are set adrift, creating a sparkling river of flame which floats downstream throughout the evening.
In Espoo, Finland, there is a tradition of sharing Christmas Eve with those relatives who have passed away. The adults of the town bring candles and gifts to the cemetery, where they pass a solemn evening of remembrance.
The Taoist festival of Ta Chiu is celebrated in Hong Kong on December 27th. On this night, the people of the city summon the ghosts of their ancestors to join in their merrymaking and to lend their unearthly powers to grant wishes for the coming year. A list of the participants' names is read, then attached to a paper horse which is set ablaze as part of a tremendous bonfire. It is believed that the smoke from the fire carries the names to heaven where they will be remembered by the gods.
Nowhere in the world is the longest night of the year so apparent than in Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost town of the United States, where at solstice time the sun does not rise at all. Celebrations of light are held from December 21st onward, when lights are hung from the upright jawbones of a bowhead whale, burning throughout the day to bring illumination to the continual darkness. Here even nature celebrates the return of the light with the display of the aurora borealis in the dark winter skies.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, there are many celebrations of light that you may observe and take part in. On the first Saturday in December, the Scandinavian settlement town of Poulsbo, Washington, has its annual Yule Fest. There are traditional observances such as the burning of the Yule log and the candlelight procession of St. Lucia, as well as musical performances, arts and crafts markets and, of course, lots of food. Also the first weekend in December are the Old Fashioned Christmas Days in Des Moines, Washington, with the lighting of the community tree at sunset and a nighttime procession of boats decorated with hundreds of lights.
The winter celebration in Leavenworth, Washington has grown so large that it runs the first two weekends in December. Here, on Saturday and Sunday night, there is a countdown to the throwing of the switch which turns on the thousands of tiny white lights that adorn the Bavarian style homes and stores of the city center. This event is very popular, so arrive early in the day and be prepared for crowds. Another "electrifying" celebration is Zoolights, at Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington. Here, lights are formed into the shapes of animals and holiday scenes that you can admire as you stroll through the park. This beautiful display is open evenings throughout the month of December.
If you are interested in learning more about the various worldwide solstice celebrations on the Internet, there are literally hundreds of sites available. I highly recommend starting at http://www.nightkitchen.com/home.html. This site starts on the first of December and has daily updates up to New Years, dedicated to information about Solstice celebrations, Yule, Saturnalia and links to other sites exploring worldwide customs and traditions for this season of light.
Happy traveling!
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