We can all find light in the darkness this Christmas
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It’s Christmas Eve.
That will be marked in many different ways across our communities, and efforts to maintain seasonal traditions emphasise how embedded they are.
Lights have been a major feature this year. In the northern hemisphere light is a sign of hope in darknes.
Lights feature across faith traditions, including the Jewish festival of Hanukkah last week, Christianity’s candles, and Diwali, the festival of lights.
The longest night, the winter solstice, has long been the focus of pagan traditions of light, fire, and decorations.
Locally, January 11 normally brings the Clavie, fire and light heralding a new year and longer days, although sadly it has been cancelled this year due to coronavirus.
Normally, lots of feasting and partying would celebrate the company of others and signs of plenty.
The pagans also direct our attention to evergreens and mistletoe, showing life continuing through winter. Growing from that (see what I did there), we adopted European Christmas trees.
All traditions have tales to share – in plays, or by a fire with a warming drink. Many stories and symbols are also shared in song, bringing us carols with a mindboggling range of theological and mythical settings. Music always brings life to a gathering, expressing joys and sorrows, and getting folk dancing.
Then there’s the giving and receiving of presents. That may have begun with pagans and Roman Saturnalia, but has become Santa’s bag (see what I did there?!). Santa includes traits of the Christian St Nicholas and various traditional characters, with help from the Coca-Cola Company and movies.
All these traditions evolve in context, so will be different in the cold and dark of a Scottish winter from elsewhere.
Some very local ones develop too. A crucial part of Moray Christmases is now the Northern Scot toy appeal, enabling the folk of Moray to give to others. Similar traditions are sadly having to develop with Moray Food Plus and Moray School Bank appeals.
Amongst all of this is the story of a baby born in Bethlehem. Jesus, the son of a joiner and his partner, for whom there was no room, who later became refugees.
A story, actually two stories, of God coming to be with us in the mess and diversity of human life. Messages of peace for all and good news for outsiders, beginning with shepherds and foreigners. The Christmas story.
In the Christmas story we find light in dark times, we find signs of new life, we find gifts given and received. I believe it’s a story of God’s love being lived out. So over the centuries Christmas celebrations have adopted and adapted other symbols and traditions that also speak of light, life and love. In this way, I believe God has come to be with us in the mess and diversity of traditions too.
This is now a season that matters in lots of ways, as our politicians recognise. It comes with stresses and joys. We have different hopes and expectations.
Whatever this time means for you, I hope you find light and hope, life and peace, and love given and received. Happy Christmas.
- Jenny Adams is the minister at Duffus, Spynie and Hopeman Church of Scotland. Look out for her first exclusive column of 2021 in two weeks time. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all of you who have enjoyed reading Jenny’s wise words throughout lockdown.
