Exploring Diwali, Hanukkah, and Local Traditions That Brighten Our Winter
As winter settles in and the daylight grows shorter, we instinctively reach for warmth, comfort, and connection. For many of us, light becomes our anchor. It brings peace, joy, and a reminder that even in the darkest season, something bright is always waiting. Growing up, my German mother, Frieda, would tell the story of her childhood Christmases in “the village,” where candles were placed on the tree and carefully lit. There were no electric lights then, so each tiny flame felt extraordinary. That memory always reminds me how deeply the glow of light connects us to tradition, culture, and one another. Today, our community is more diverse than ever, and with that comes a beautiful expansion of the ways we celebrate this season of light.
Diwali: Welcoming Love, Peace, and Prosperity
Over a richly spiced cup of chai, my friend and neighbour Nikita Syal shared photos of her family’s Diwali celebrations this past November. As the days grew colder and darker, their home came alive with colour, food, fireworks, and togetherness. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, marks a time of triumph over darkness, and Nikita described it with unmatched warmth. “All the families in all the houses open their doors, even the windows, and turn on all the lights, showing the way for the gods that this is our house. Come in, give us love, give us peace, give us prosperity,” she said. “We don’t leave our house until the lamp goes out by itself. That’s Diwali.” Her little boy proudly told me about the diya lamp he made at school and the fireworks he loves most. And I couldn’t help but be drawn to the beautiful rangoli artwork that adorns doorways and temples during the celebration. Using rice flour, colourful chalk, flower petals, lentils, or rice, families create stunning designs that brighten steps and hallways. Whether known as Kolam, Rangavalli, or rangoli, the intention is the same everywhere: push back the darkness with beauty, colour, and light. Next year, Diwali will be celebrated from November 6 to 12, 2026.
Hanukkah: A Celebration of Miracles and Hope
This year, Hanukkah will be celebrated from December 14 to 22. I spoke with Rabbi Moshe Goldman of the Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life in Waterloo, and we reminisced about one of our favourite memories: the first public menorah lighting in Waterloo’s Public Square in 2009. That single event grew into a regional celebration. Today, Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge each host their own community menorah lighting. This year’s dates include Waterloo on December 14, Cambridge on December 15, and Kitchener on December 21. “It’s a universal message that everyone understands,” Rabbi Goldman shared. “The courage and power of a little light in the darkness will not be extinguished, no matter how small the light is. It brings a fresh breath of hope.” Hanukkah’s tradition of lighting the menorah honours the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days while new oil was being brought from Tekoa to Jerusalem. That enduring flame has become a symbol of perseverance, faith, and resilience. And today, everyone in our community is welcome to join these celebrations that illuminate our winter nights.
Light as a Shared Language
Whether your family lights candles, strings up twinkling lights, builds rangoli art, sets out diyas, or gathers around a glowing tree, one theme remains constant. Light brings people together. It reminds us of hope, warmth, and the comfort of shared stories. In this season of many celebrations, may you fill your home with whatever brings you joy. May the lights you kindle reflect love, peace, and the optimism we all carry into a new year. However you celebrate, celebrate with light and a hopeful heart.