I put it off as long as I could, but I’m not the kind of guy who leaves his Christmas lights up all year. Fortunately, I’m Russian Orthodox, and on the Eastern calendar today, Monday, is December 26, 2006. I’ll just let you Google that for yourownself, but it’s true. And that means I get to have Christmas twice, and leave my lights up longer than some of you guys. So there.
It’s strange. It seems darker now, even inside at my desk. I can relate to the pagan bonfire rituals that started the tradition of lights at winter solstice. They were afraid that the shortening days and incipient cold meant the sun was drifting away, leaving them in darkness forever. So they built bonfires to entice the sun to stay. And in a few months, they saw it worked.
In my case, it was a comfort – a consolation in bleak evenings – to see my little string of lights winding and twinkling amidst the balcony irons. The world seemed a bit less obscure, just knowing they were out there, signaling the dim hope of lengthening days.
Of course to a Christian like me the humble act of lighting the darkness means infinitely more. But you don’t have to witness Jesus Christ to appreciate the symbolism. So I ask you, what ritual of mind and heart will you attend, to light the way to Spring?
Goodbye Christmas, my old friend.
I’ll say a prayer you’ll come again.
*More light. Reportedly the last words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Metaphor 
Cindy, you are truly a poet.
I think if you live in a place with no real winter, it's harder. I felt that way in Tx. Now that I live in the mountains, I find peace in the starkness of the bare trees, the chatter of winter birds, ice on the creek and the friskiness of the dogs. And though the days are short, candles and a wood fire warm the house, stews and soups warm the heart. They are much missed in summer.
I'll do what any darkminded poet who appreciates the gentle succor of a candle does: write. š
Beats me why they didn't do that, Erik. But in just over 3 weeks, we can ask Punxsutawney Phil. But Bill's got the right idea. Baseball. Let's skip basketball season and call in the boys of summer.
It's time for baseball. Spring training starts soon and paves the way to Spring.
My question: Why do Western (and perhaps Eastern?) calendars not choose as the "new year" the day after the winter solstice, when the days begin to become longer? Makes sense to me, why not to them?