CAITLIN WALKER PHOTO
MEEKER | The annual tradition of wrestling Christmas lights out of their hibernation occurs in more than 80 million homes each year. Most of us grumble and mumble as we unsnarl, loop, re-loop, arrange and re-rearrange the strands over and around our trees and our homes, but most agree the final result is worth all the effort.
Christmas lights aren’t just sparkle and shine, however. The cheerful glow is a modern reiteration of a ritual of hope that dates all the way back to the 4th century.
Way back when, Germanic people would gather together on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. As with most celebrations of the time, there would be feasting and wassailing, bonfires and the burning of the Yule log, and symbols like evergreens to celebrate the cycle of life, death and eternity. Sound a little familiar?