In the velvet darkness
of the blackest night
Ah, the winter solstice. Heart of the cold season, the longest night. Time of rebirth, of looking forward to the return of the sun and spring. A time to take stock of the year that was, and begin laying foundations for the one to come.
A perfect occasion to light a candle in the window, a symbolic beacon of hope amid the darkness.
Although, you might want to keep an eye on that candle. Because it could spring a leak, and if you're not careful you could end up spending forty minutes with a hot dishcloth in one hand and a knife in the other, scraping and cleaning off the dribbles of wax all over the wall, floor, end table, and your favorite lamp.
Sometimes, even symbols can get pretty damned messy. Or so I hear.