At the heart of Christmas is light: candle flames against the dark, lanterns in windows, fairy lights strung through trees. More than decoration, light is symbol — of hope, of renewal, of winter’s end.
Candlelight Rituals
In Scandinavia, Saint Lucia’s Day crowns a girl with candles to banish the darkness. In churches, midnight mass glows in candelabra. At home, tapers at the table embody both warmth and ceremony.
Modern Spectacle
In the 20th century, electric lights transformed Christmas. From Rockefeller Center’s towering tree to neighbourhood displays, light became collective celebration — dazzling and democratic.
Sacred & Secular
Stained glass in cathedrals, lanterns in Alpine villages, strings of bulbs across city streets: each reflects light’s double role as sacred and social, personal and public.
Christmas Picks:
- Georg Jensen – Silver candlesticks and holiday ornaments.
- Svenskt Tenn – Swedish design house known for Advent candlesticks.
- Luminara – Flameless candles for modern interiors.
- Rockefeller Center – Icon of New York’s Christmas lights.
TL;DR
Christmas is, at its core, a festival of light. From Lucia’s candles to Rockefeller’s bulbs, illumination is both symbol and celebration — a promise carried through centuries of winter.
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