CELEBRATING THE LIGHT

                                
 
November 26, 2010 – Today is Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving that kicks off the Christmas season.  Rather than going shopping, my husband, son, daughter and I decided to extend the Thanksgiving holiday by driving out the arm of Cape Cod to Provincetown.

Stopping briefly at the southern end of the Cape Cod National Seashore, which is part of the U.S. National Park Service, we discovered a map that traced the passage of the historic Mayflower.  When the ship came upon Cape Cod’s breathtaking windswept dunes along the eastern coastline, she turned south with the intention of finding the mouth of the Hudson River, and the Virginia Colony  Her passage was blocked, however, by the shoals lying just below the elbow of the Cape. 

Thwarted, the Mayflower turned back and sailed up and around to the north.  On November 11, 1620, the pilgrims found a safe haven in the harbor formed by the very hand of the Cape, and they named the area Provincetown. Symbolically, the travel-worn pilgrims were taken in by America, and cradled inside the welcoming hand of a new mother country. 

Approaching Provincetown, we spotted the towering Pilgrim Monument atop the town hill.  In August 1910, Provincetown completed construction of the tallest all-granite structure in the U.S. – over 250 feet in height.  On August 5^th of this year, the town celebrated the landmark’s 100^th Anniversary with a Rededication. 

Today strings of lights radiated out from the top of the narrow tower to form a perfect conical tree.   We had just missed the monument’s official holiday lighting ceremony which had taken place on the evening of November 24.  The illumination of this tower must be the first significant “Christmas Tree Lighting” of the year across the whole U.S.

Provincetown’s other notable “tree” stood in a square off Bradford Street by the harbor - a large pyramid of lobster traps festooned with lights, buoys, and shelter seeking birds.  As isolated as the town is, our walk along Bradford Street was crowded with tourists and shoppers who had ventured there to celebrate the uniqueness of Provincetown’s holiday season.

Before returning to our car mid-afternoon, we visited the bas relief that depicts the signing of the “Mayflower Compact,” the formal agreement that the passengers would stay together in a "civil body politic."  The agreement was signed on November 21, 1620, by the 41 men among the 102 passengers who arrived aboard the Mayflower, and it read as follows: 

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

Their promise of submission and obedience, to laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, would be put to a severe test.  While Europe would seek to subdue this yet vast wilderness territory, America was destined to become a unique and independent nation, the Land of Liberty.

Cape Cod Bay was indeed the Cradle of Liberty.  The “cradle” metaphor signifies a crib for an infant that is free to swing.  Cradle also means infancy, the place of a thing’s beginning or early development.  The pilgrims had journeyed to the New World in the quest for religious freedom.   They would leave Provincetown, continue across the Bay and come to rest on the bosom of Plymouth on December 21, 1620, the day of the Winter Solstice.  Here they would start their lives anew, far away from the land of darkness and intolerance that was England.  Here in New England they could honor God and practice the doctrines of Jesus Christ without persecution. 

Jesus began life cradled in his mother’s loving arms, and he grew up to be a fine leader, teaching human morality through example, illuminating the path of soul liberty, and showing people the way to spiritual freedom.  He spoke clearly about the power of Light to his disciples.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  -- Matthew 5:14-16

Since ancient times, diverse religious and cultural traditions from around the world celebrate the Winter Solstice, the return of light and spiritual pilgrimage.  In individuality, yet in Unity, we pray, sing, and offer food to illuminate the dark corners and to manifest peace, justice, and freedom for all on earth.

 
Christians light advent candles and display the Star of Bethlehem atop their Christmas trees.  Jewish people light menorahs to celebrate the Chanukah story - the miracle of the oil that kept the temple flame alive – and display the Star of David. 

 
Buddhists string colored lights about the home in celebration of Bodhi Day, the day Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.  Hindus decorate shrines of Pancha Ganapati with traditional symbols, rangoli, and lamps to create a vibration of love and harmony from December 21 through December 25.

Catholic Mexicans re-enact the story of Joseph and Mary, starting on the 16th of December and finishing on the 24th. They carry small candles and walk from house to house to request lodging, and sing a traditional song about the pilgrims.

After Christmas, Black Americans light candles for seven days to honor the seven principles of Kwanzaa - Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.
 
Click here to learn more about the Pilgrim Monument.

Click here to hunt for more clues as we follow the footsteps of famous pilgrim and Rhode Island founder Roger Williams and learn more about the Native Americans.