PGAQ #70 by Vic Steblin, Dec 24, 2008

2570 Laurier Crescent, Prince George, BC, 250-564-1123

History and tradition overwhelms sense and reason at many Christmas Eve services throughout our culture. Hundreds of candles in thousands of sanctuaries add a flickering glow to the fascination of belief. The candle smoke mostly rises but still calms the restlessness of the congregation. Like honeybees stunned by the particles of the beekeeper’s smoker, the people calm down.

The warmth of a fire, the light of an oil lamp, a candle in the darkness are wonderful traditions. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” is a Bible passage revered by many. There is little if any mention of side effects or hazardous particles in the history and tradition of heat and light.

The occasional cough distracts little from the ambiance of a candle-lit service. At the end a hundred candles are eagerly blown out and the coughs are lost in the hubbub of the exiting throng.

Very few wonder about the particles in the air. Very few care about this insignificant detail. Aren’t a few candles overwhelmed by the cars starting up or the Christmas Eve fires? How could one candle-lit service come close to the effect of a smoker? What about the effect on a newborn baby? Next year I will suggest LED candles.