20100116 - Christmas is over - IMG_5082
The use of decorative, festive lighting during the Christmas holiday season is a long standing tradition in many Christian cultures, and has been adopted as a secular practice in a number of other non-Christian, or predominantly non-Christian, cultures (notably in Japan).
While the use of celebratory lighting during winter solstice festivals pre-dates Christianity, it is the European (and later North American) partly secularised traditions associated with Christmas which are now commonly recognised and enjoyed as Christmas (or festive, holiday-season) lights.
Early Christians were persecuted for having worship gatherings ("mass"). A candle in the window signified where worship would be occurring for Christians in a community.
The illuminated Christmas tree became a Christmas tradition in Germany during the Early Modern period. The illuminated Christmas tree became established in the United Kingdom during Queen Victoria's reign, and through emigration spread to North America and Australia. In her journal for Christmas Eve 1832, the delighted 13-year-old princess wrote, "After dinner..we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room. There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed round the trees". Until the development of inexpensive electrical power in the mid nineteenth century, miniature candles were commonly (and in some cultures still are) used.
continue reading at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights
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My work for the assignment "Christmas" of our photographic group.
Strobist info: one 580ex on the camera, bounced to the ceiling - ETTL +1 stop
20100116 - Christmas is over - IMG_5082
The use of decorative, festive lighting during the Christmas holiday season is a long standing tradition in many Christian cultures, and has been adopted as a secular practice in a number of other non-Christian, or predominantly non-Christian, cultures (notably in Japan).
While the use of celebratory lighting during winter solstice festivals pre-dates Christianity, it is the European (and later North American) partly secularised traditions associated with Christmas which are now commonly recognised and enjoyed as Christmas (or festive, holiday-season) lights.
Early Christians were persecuted for having worship gatherings ("mass"). A candle in the window signified where worship would be occurring for Christians in a community.
The illuminated Christmas tree became a Christmas tradition in Germany during the Early Modern period. The illuminated Christmas tree became established in the United Kingdom during Queen Victoria's reign, and through emigration spread to North America and Australia. In her journal for Christmas Eve 1832, the delighted 13-year-old princess wrote, "After dinner..we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room. There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed round the trees". Until the development of inexpensive electrical power in the mid nineteenth century, miniature candles were commonly (and in some cultures still are) used.
continue reading at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights
--
My work for the assignment "Christmas" of our photographic group.
Strobist info: one 580ex on the camera, bounced to the ceiling - ETTL +1 stop