NAOMI LOVES Newsletter: Christmas in a time of covid

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A CANDLE INTHE WINDOWWWW.NAOMILOVES.COM10
“All thedarkness in theworld cannotextinguishthe light of asingle candle.”- St. Francisof AssisiIn 17th CenturyIreland, Britishpenal law decreedthat all Catholicclergy must leave thecountry on threatof imprisonmentand exile. If theylater returned toIreland, they wouldbe liable to beinghanged, drawn andquartered. Many ofthe clergy went intohiding, travelling the country and offering Mass andteaching children in open fields.At Christmas, faithful Catholic families would placecandles in their windows as silent, shining messagesto the itinerant bishops and prieststhat the doors to their homes wereunlocked and that inside, they wouldfind welcome and safety. The traditionoutlasted the persecution and today,people all over the world still lightcandles at Christmas.Lighting a candle carries something of a ritual to it.The purposeful striking of the match and then thatmoment - one beat of a heart - in which we wait forit to catch, sizzle, and flare. Then we lower the matchto the wick, gently cupping one hand around the otherside to shelter the candle from any breeze, and standback as the flame takes form to watch the ancient“The hypnosis of theflame is as old ashumanity itself”glow. Faces behind a candle grow warm, shadowssoften, shoulders relax. The hypnosis of the flame isas old as humanity itself.Candles will flicker and glow on window sills across theworld this year. Beacons of welcome topersecuted priests, Father Christmas,the Holy Ghost, or the neighbours twodoors down, depending on the windowsill in question. But the common themeis welcome. In March we put rainbowsand teddy bears in our windows. InApril we lit candles for the Anzac soldiers. ComeDecember, I’ll be lighting a candle again.I like to think our candles are saying, collectively,despite the fear, sickness, outrage, loss, lockdown andisolation that has marked this horrible year, “I’m stillhere.” And also, “I’m still here for you.”11WWW.NAOMILOVES.COM
Page 1 and 2: SUMMER 2020NAOMILOVES.COMCHRISTMASi
Page 3 and 4: Hello dear friend! I think that, af
Page 5 and 6: “When they receive your letter, i
Page 7 and 8: GIFT CERTIFICATESA thoughtful gift
Page 9: we were apart. At night I wouldlook
Page 13 and 14: DIY FESTIVE,FRAGRANT,ETHICAL CANDLE
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Page 17 and 18: ...Only, I have so many questions!
Page 19 and 20: Right: This was justaround the corn
Page 21 and 22: A thoughtful gift for lovers ofgood
Page 23 and 24: CHRISTMASIN A TIMEOF COVIDBack in M
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Page 27 and 28: A Christmas menuTO SHAREIf covid re
Page 29 and 30: Cooking instructions
Page 31 and 32: 12 DAYSOF MERRYMAIL-ARTAn envelope
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Page 45 and 46: Hand-poured 100% soy wax candle,nat
Page 47: Heirloom vegetable seeds from theLi

NAOMI LOVES Newsletter: Christmas in a time of covid

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