Playworks sells toys that invite play and enhance development in children from birth through age five

Days are growing progressively shorter and nights longer as we approach Winter Solstice on 21 December 2009. With the arrival of autumn, our hours of daylight steadily declined, temperatures fell, and we began to spend more time indoors. Holidays bring light and warmth, both metaphorically and literally, into this darkness.

Thanksgiving draws families and friends together to celebrate the harvest, share the feast, and express gratitude for the blessings of our lives. Living mindfully, being tuned in to all that is good in our lives allows us to recognize our blessings and live gratefully everyday. I recall my mother reminding us children that "you don't have to look far to find someone worse off than you are." That's the truth, no matter what's going on in our lives. Family, friends, bountiful food, and heart-felt gratitude are indeed defenses against the darkness.

Chanukah, celebrated this year beginning at sundown on December 11, is the Jewish Festival of Lights commemorating the victory of the Maccabees, the rededication of the temple of Jerusalem, and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days. Hence the tradition of lighting a candle each night of this eight day celebration.

Christmas is also a festival of lights. Remember the Star of Bethlehem? Moravians hang a 26-point star from the first Sunday of Advent through Epiphany. Advent wreathes include five candles, one for each Sunday leading to Christmas and a fifth candle for Christmas Day. Before the advent of electric light bulbs, candles illuminated Christmas trees, and fresh trees were decorated and the candles lighted on Christmas Eve. Electricity affords safer and brighter Yuletides and allows more lights to brighten more places indoors and out.

The burning of a Yule log, a large wooden log, in an open hearth is part of traditional Christmas celebrations in numerous European cultures. It can be part of Winter Solstice festivities as well as the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night also known as Epiphany. These days most of us think of dessert when we hear the words Yule Log, but then who among us has an open hearth for lighting a large wooden log?

However your family celebrates, we wish you peace, love, and joy.