“Tonight will be bad, and tomorrow beyond imagining,” wrote Susan Cooper in her novel *The Dark is Rising.*

Tonight is the winter solstice, the “longest evening of the year” as Robert Frost eloquently phrased it.

It is no coincidence that the Christian Church decided to celebrate the birth of Christ at a time of the year in which the dark seems to overwhelm us, and we are desperate for the light.

It is also no coincidence that imagery with the coming of Christ is entwined with light. We say that he is “Light of the World.” We imagine him with a halo of gold in medieval and renaissance art. Bright stars guide wise men to him.

During Kwanzaa, seven candles in a holder are lit to represent the seven principals of the celebration.

And if we celebrate Hanukkah, we light more candles and celebrate ritual oil that sustained light for a people for longer than it ever should have.

We light candles, we decorate our trees and houses with beautiful lights, and, in a country where nearly everyone has central heat, we dig out our fireplaces and have fires in late December. And if we don’t have one, we turn on our televisions to some ridiculous station that shows wood burning, just to give us an artificial sense of “cozy.”

And we enjoy it.

Never, ever, in my whole, entire life, have I felt the oppressive Dark as I have this winter. Our country and Democracy is struggling at best. Our ideologies have divided us. And a deadly virus is literally spreading before our eyes. As bad as it is now, it is going to get much, much worse in the coming months. We are poised for a “Dark Winter.”

I am scared.

But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We, like the our terrified ancestors, can see it. A vaccine is heading our way. The light *is* coming. We can do this if we stay the course. Just a few more months of isolation, and then we can celebrate with friends and family again. We can go into stores. Our kids can go to school, and proms, and graduations. We can hug each other.

That is what the light means to me. To quote a massively popular classic Christmas song (written during WWII, a definite low-point for cheerful family holidays, I might add):

Somedays soon we all will be together

If the fates allow

Until then we’ll have to muddle. through somehow

So have yourself a merry little Christmas, now

Interestingly, the “Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow” line was changed to “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough” years later.

Hmm. More light imagery. Coincidence? I think not.

Anyway, this holiday, protect yourself from the Dark, my friends. Wear a mask. Avoid the temptation of large gatherings. There is light. We can see it. Light a candle, enjoy your fire, admire your neighbor’s lights, and muddle through.

Next year we all will be together, if the fates allow. XOXOXO