Pagans' sense of this season is more immediate than 
that of Jews and Christians.  The Macabee's long-
burning oil is not  the most remarkable of the miracles 
the Jewish people have encountered in their long journey, and we do not know the exact date of Christ's birth. 
This season's illuminations mark the day the encroaching darkness reaches its nearest advance.  The year's coldest days are ahead, but now each dawn and each dusk will mark
a small retreat of the darkness.  So we chose this time to 
celebrate things which are far more profound and 
far more ineffable than that retreat, 
but which are symbolized by it.

© 12/95, revised 12/97 C.J.McF.  All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without prior permission from author.