‘Twas the night before Christmas…

So begins the first line of the famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore which has delighted generations of children and adults since it was first published in December 1823.

Reading those lines takes me right back in time to the excitement and anticipation I felt as a child waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.  I can see my mother lighting a candle and placing it in the front window  – a tradition which served as a symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph who sought shelter on that first Christmas Eve.

Lighting a candle is a spiritual practice in many traditions, used to sanctify ordinary space. This year I’ll continue the tradition in my virtual home to which you all belong.  See this candle as a symbol of the comfort and support available to you in our community; a light in the darkness when you need it.

Thank you all for your support over the past year. May we continue to light the way for each other in the coming year.

Christmas is not a time nor season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas ~ Calvin Coolidge

Love and Light

Marie xxxx