Good morning, lovely people.

This is video nine in my 12 Days of Christmas series,

where I’m making a festive video every day of Christmastide

[talking softly] (the original Christmas season)

You can find the other videos in the series linked in the description down below.

And if you're not already subscribed,

then do click or tap the button below so you don't miss any of the Christmas love.

Today, we’re going to be talking about candles and light and warmth

and loveliness.

I have a puppy on my lap, but you can't see.

Quick history tip for some background:

So, in the medieval era Christendom,

Christmastide lasted from the Nativity all the way to The Purification,

which is also known as The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

So, extending the season to forty days!

That is forty days of Christmas.

The last day, the 2nd of February –

also known as Candlemas because of the blessing of candles on this day--

but I'm talking about it on the 2nd of January!

So I can talk about candles

and Christmas rituals, and…

in general.

I'm gonna bend history to my will.

I mean, we can also throw in some paganism;

some Christianity--

…Bye, then. She just wandered off.

And especially kind of just how special candles and light are in my personal Christmas celebrations.

Although you already saw a little bit of that on Day...

four,

when Claud gave me some angel chimes.

In the Western Christian world, the two traditional days on which Christmas decorations are removed

are Twelfth Night

(the end of my 12 Days series)

and Candlemas, which is February the 2nd.

The blessing of candles on this day is inspired by the Song of Solomon,

which proclaimed that Jesus is a light of revelation to the nations.

Any decorations not taking down on Twelfth Night

are meant to be left undisturbed until Candlemas

- the 2nd of February.

Leaving decorations up beyond Candlemas, however, is considered to be inauspicious

and you will be struck with bad luck

all year,

and mirrors will break.

On Candlemas, many Christians, especially Anglicans, Methodists, Orthodox, and Roman Catholics,

also bring the candles to their local church where they’re blessed and then used for the rest of the year.

For Christians, these blessed candles serve as a symbol of Jesus Christ,

who referred to himself as the light of the world.

This is the burning of the clock celebration in Brighton.

It's held in the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

It’s a unique community event that brings together people

no matter their faith, to celebrate the festive season.

Local people make their own paper and willow lanterns

and join a fantastical 2,000 strong procession that brings magic to the streets.

Once they've wound their way to the beach,

people pass their handmade lanterns filled with their hopes and dreams for the next year

on to a blazing bonfire and then watch a spectacular firework display,

with over 20,000 spectators!

The burning of the clocks turns the spotlight away from the more commercial side of Christmas

and lights up the darkest of winter nights.

If you've been watching my channel for a while, you know that I'm not actually a Christian,

even though I’m talking about Christian things.

I am a Quaker, which is a religion that was originally rooted in Christianity,

and I will link my video kind of explaining a bit more about Quakerism

in the description and also in a card above so you can find out a little more.

Now, there isn't a set rule for Quakers about Christmas (as in whether we celebrate it not and

how we celebrate),

because there aren't many rules for Quakers.

We're fun that way.

but my family is also part Swedish,

and thus really big on celebrating!

Also, celebratory drinking.

and celebratory Christmas morning ‘let's go jump into a frozen lake.’

Swedish people.

Light plays a really special role in Swedish Christmas,

probably because it is so dark

at that time of year

The annual candle-lit Lucia procession on the 13th of December

is perhaps one of the more exotic of the Swedish customs.

It was girls and boys clad in full-length white gowns,

singing songs together and processing through the town.

If you’ve seen my previous two Vlogmasses, you'll have seen me dressed as St. Lucia,

with my long white dress

(last year, I chose my wedding dress);

a red sash; and a crown of candles.

By the way, I do realise there is some disparity between “Lucia” and the way I say it ("Lu-chi-a"),

but that's just the way my family always say it, so…

See also: deaf

Santa Lucia is the bearer of light; an ancient mythical figure,

with an abiding role as the bearer of light in the dark Swedish winters.

The Lucia celebrations represent one of the foremost cultural traditions in Sweden,

with their clear reference to life in the peasant communities of old.

So, darkness and light; cold and warm.

Normally, the part of Lucia--see, I can't even say it.

Normally, the part of Lucia

(whatever)

is played by the youngest girl in the family

and since I am the youngest by quite a way of many, many female cousins,

it was my job for many years and something I really love doing.

I remember like the first time I did it, I was probably about five,

which is potentially a strange age to let a child walk around with candles on their head.

So the family were all gathered

in grandfather's study

because we all went up and stayed with my grandparents in the Lake District, every Christmas.

And all of my aunts and uncles and all of my cousins.

[Whispering] And then they turn out the lights; gets very quiet.

[Normal voice] Someone waits with me in the hallway and I'm all dressed up; so excited.

[Speaking softly] Got this little--got it on my head, so ready.

Get lit.

[Normal voice] And someone rings the bell.

“Ooo, what's that? Who's coming?”

I can just remember the intense joy.

And I walked in.

I feel like I had a cousin with a towel behind me.

Just in case I--I set on fire and she needed to throw it over me.

This hot, hot wax dripping onto my hair.

I could feel it. I was so excited.

Passing out presents and…

I just felt so honored and part of something wonderful.

And I remember sitting watching TV

- later on, I think, while my cousins pulled wax out of my hair.

Also a Christmas tradition.

I think occasionally we actually ironed my hair to get the wax out,

which my friends found hilarious.

It was just such a special and wonderful thing to be a part of.

This family tradition that had gone on for

generations and generations, and…

I can't wait ’til I have a little girl who can take on the tradition.

I’ll light candles on my child's head

and then I'll follow her round with a towel just in case.

It's just lovely, though.

I don’t know. What are your family traditions?

I'm sure you have things as well that are kind of passed down through generation to generation.

I'm big on tradition;

makes me feel so nice.

I haven't been able to do it this year, though,

which is--I think maybe this is actually the first year in my life

that I haven't had Lucia and be a part of it,

which is kind of weird

and a big shame, actually.

I think it’s just because I've been so tired.

I said to Claud the other day:

since I got rushed to hospital at the start November,

I don't think I've actually felt not tired.

I mean, obviously I have chronic fatigue, so I always feel pretty tired.

But I’m definitely more tired than usual.

To which she pointed out that the fact I had to go to hospital

probably proves that I was already more tired than I should have been.

Hopefully, though, now it’s the new year, things will slowly get back to normal,

because--who knows really? Because this month is actually quite busy for me.

It's my birthday on the 25th.

[Small exclamation] [Fireworks sound effect]

I'm going to be thirty!

You can start calling me mum now.

I know.

I'm going to America

like two days after my birthday.

Again.

Um...for more meetings.

But I'm only there for about three days, which is ridiculous.

Jet lag's gonna…kill me.

Um, and then as soon as I come back – the day I land –

we're having this big birthday party.

I wanted the special like weekend away with my friends

to really celebrate,

because I didn't get to go anywhere for my hen party.

We had it in Brighton.

So I was really like, ‘Yeah, I want all my friends together;

we're gonna stay in some place and it will feel great, yeah!’

No, to be fair, the trip to America was planned after I planned my birthday, so.

It's very exciting, though. Sorry that I keep yawning.

[Tired noise]

But it's very exciting,

because I--I haven't actually planned it.

That's why it’s mainly exciting.

[Chuckles]

I've been like, 'Wife...'

'Best friend...'

'Get together. Make it happen.'

'Do this birthday.'

So, I don't know anything.

Which is gonna be really fun.

Anyway, I'm gonna make a video. You will see.

I shall vlog it for you. My surprise.

[Sighing] Speaking of videos, though, I'm really gonna try and keep my upload schedule pretty consistent

in January

(and this year, you know).

It makes me happy.

But please do excuse me if it goes a little funny or if I suddenly need to take a week off

or I upload videos late, etc. etc.

I have some really good ideas for things I want to film.

Um…so watch this space.

All right, I'm gonna go have a bath now and relax.

See you later!

[Jolly festive music]