Kump Corner
This Sunday will be the fourth and last Sunday in Advent, and many Christians will celebrate by lighting four candles on an Advent wreath. The candles often represent Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. In 2020 we need these signs of hope during the Covid-19 Pandemic when modern Americans fear for their lives and economic stability.
This Advent tradition is much like older festivals of light that celebrated the return of the sun all over the northern hemisphere at the time of Winter Solstice. Last week’s column described some of the Asian and Native American festivals of light honoring the return of the sun, and this week we will look into some of the ancient European customs that came before the Christian Church.