I’m still working through How to Winter, by Kari Leibowitz (I read most of it awhile ago, but it’s due at the library soon, so I picked it up to finish it).
One way Scandinavian culture embraces winter is by lighting candles everywhere (restaurant tables, lanterns along the street, nail salon) on a regular basis. The author describes the warmth and comfort of these candles’ glow, so different from the harshness of overhead electric light. She describes how people will often place lighted candles in their windows, creating light for people walking by outside and making neighborhoods feel warmer and more communal.
I loved this, first because this made me think of Chanukah lights, and seeing Chanukah lights in a window gives me a feeling of warmth and connection. But also – isn’t this what we try to do for each other? For our community of ladies who are maybe experiencing an unexpected winter season? To try and take gentle care of each other when we can, creating patches of light along the way.
“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”
-James Keller
