Ceremonial Use of Lights Around the World [Infographic]

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Light ceremonies and rituals in a variety of religions and cultures are explained in this infographic from Solar Centre UK.

Light is ubiquitous in religious celebrations, and people of various origins and cultures use it to adorn rituals, sometimes even making it the center and focus of religious activities. The semantics of light cover a variety of meanings for religions, and it often symbolizes joy, hope and live-giving power. While all these ceremonies from different geographical locations use light, their stories of origin and cultural significance vary.

In a richly detailed infographic, Solar Centre UK explores beautiful light ceremonies around the world, including Aarti, celebrated in Varanasi India, which is a Hindi fire festival performed in the banks of the Ganges; Lampadedromia, held in Greece, which is an ancient ceremony that took place in Athens, dedicated to honoring the Gods; Diwali, which takes place in India, a celebration of the Hindu New Year; and Guy Fawkes in the United Kingdom, which originates from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Candlemas, Obon, Loi Krahtong and Yi Peng, Hanukkah, Fête des Lumières, St. Lucia’s Day and Hogmanay complete the list featured in this informative infographic.

Alongside the vivid descriptions are colorful photos that give the reader a better idea of what the featured light ceremony is all about.

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