IDENTITY

Lights in The Dark

Amanda Perumal

It’s certainly not difficult to recognise when the winter months have finally descended upon us; frosted windscreens and early nights mark the beginnings of a cold and dreary season. Many feel this sudden drop in temperature and the all-encompassing darkness which comes with British wintertime to be quite overbearing, some even experience what Norman E. Rosenthal reported to be ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’. In the midst of such bleakness, the festive season emerges as a beacon of light both figuratively and literally. The abundance of celebratory events allows for the regular use of fireworks, decorations, and upbeat music which serve to both warm the heart and defrost red-noses.

Throughout the many festivities of Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Guy Fawkes Night, and even Halloween, light emerges as a central theme. Diwali, a celebration of light itself, lasts five days and symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The preparation of succulent sweets and the prayers made offer a sense of tranquillity and safety which brings joy through these dark winter months. As for Christmas, though some may disprove, festivities begin early as shops brighten their windows with glittery displays and iridescent lights. Christmas music fills the air and with a stroke of luck a blanket of snow might coat the ground, each icy crystal itself acting as a refractor of the decorative lights around. Fans of the renowned television show Doctor Who might remember when the Scrooge of their Christmas special remarked that all these celebrations seemed to cultivate the message “Well done, everyone! We’re halfway out of the dark!”, perfectly encompassing 11

the way in which these festivities brighten up the winter months and help people cope with the otherwise quite bleak nature of the season.

Especially in winter, light acts as the glue which brings communities together and sparks joy in the face of darkness. Entire towns gather around their town Christmas tree to watch the decorations being switched on, Halloween finds neighbours knocking on each other’s doors in search of sugary treats, and Guy Fawkes Night has families huddled tightly together through chilly winter nights as they gaze in awe after fireworks rocketing into the sky.

The dark winter days can be tough, but there are ways to cope with these difficult nights – recommended treatments include lifestyle measures such as getting as much natural sunlight as possible, exercising regularly and managing your stress levels, or even trying out a light therapy lamp which stimulates exposure to sunlight.

Light is the essence which creates life, both literally and figuratively – it’s the source of energy for processes such as photosynthesis and also acts as a sign of hope, and so the diverse multitude of celebrations that come forth to celebrate and gratify light come as no surprise. These celebrations bring forth light in other forms too; the light in the joy of one’s smile or the laughter of a child. No matter how dark and dreary things may seem from time to time, you can rest assured there will always be light at the end of the tunnel.