At such a dark time of year in the northern hemisphere, when darkness falls ever earlier each day and we creep closer to the winter solstice, light becomes very precious and very special. So it’s no wonder that so many of us enjoy lighting the darkness, whether that’s with a handful of sparkly Christmas lights in the house or garden, or by walking a light trail.
More and more outdoor spaces and visitor attractions have started creating and opening light trails to the public in the winter months, usually in November and December. Some are run by large organisations, such as the National Trust – as at Belton House near Grantham – or the Royal Horticultural Society – as at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens in North Yorkshire. Others may be privately owned, and some towns and villages have started to encourage local homes and businesses to take part in lighting up as well. They’re all about magic and wonder, infusing some colour and sparkle into the drabness of dark afternoons and evenings. Darkness can feel limiting and negative, while lighting creates interest and life. Light trails look very dramatic, sometimes with trees, sculptures or other art installations back-lit. Imaginative use of light can make even an everyday view look like a stage set.
Light trails may be a more recent addition, but they follow in a long tradition of lighting up for Christmas, like the Blackpool Illuminations, which have drawn visitors from far and wide for generations and still do so today. And more people are now also lighting up their own homes and gardens to raise money for charity.
Darkness can be beautiful in itself. Maybe you prefer to enjoy the darkness and to just go with this time of year. Maybe a starry sky is the only lighting you want to see, although few of us can now enjoy the night sky with no light pollution to get in the way. Maybe you feel more grounded and connected to nature in the winter darkness, seeing this as part of the year’s cycle, a time of rest and renewal before spring opens up. Endless twinkling lights might feel like shutting out nature.
I do like darkness and the night sky, but I like light as well. After all, the very first Christmas was all about light as a star shone out in the sky over the stable. And light trails and Christmas lights can make you notice the darkness all the more, as they draw out and focus on its beauty as a backdrop. Light is proven to ease depression and lift mood, and I enjoy seeing colourful Christmas lights on my road. Last year someone told me about going to a light trail and commented how it made her see lighting itself as an art form. It’s creativity, light and colour on a grand scale, and that has to be positive for wellbeing.
Medley 