Aliza has lived on Sugar Maple Court–the brightest street in town–since she was a baby. In December, every house on the cul-de-sac is lit up for the winter holidays.
Neighbors from all over town come to see the variety of lights in the neighborhood. Aliza takes her dog, Mitzi, on extra-long walks to look at them.
Some houses have brightly lit Christmas trees.
Other houses have menorahs for Hanukkah in the window.
Aliza’s house has both–her grandmother’s Hanukkah menorah sits next to the Christmas tree she chose with her father at the tree farm.
The Patels even left up their lights from Diwali to join the winter celebration of light.
Mr. Patel likes to say, “I’m always happy to add more light to our neighborhood. And what’s so bad about turning our five-day holiday into an entire season of celebration!”
As she walks her dog Mitzi, Aliza thinks to herself, “More holidays, more things to celebrate. More light, more love.”
The whole block glows with holiday lights. Except for one. A large house that sits right in the middle of the street. Mr. Johnson lives in that house. Aliza says aloud to Mitzi, “It’s a shame Mr. Johnson doesn’t put out any holiday lights. If he lit even just one light, Sugar Maple Court would really glow.”
The next night, Aliza walks Mitzi and sees something curious. There’s a small, single candle burning in Mr. Johnson’s window. Did he overhear what she said the night before? Excitedly, Aliza runs back home. “Mom, Dad, come quickly and look. Mr. Johnson put a candle in his window. Now, there are lights on every house on the street.”
Aliza’s father frowns. Aliza’s mother sighs, “Honey, that candle isn’t for the holidays. It’s called a yahrzeit memorial candle. Mr. Johnson lights it every year to remember his wife on the day she died.”
Even so, Mr. Johnson’s candle added to the joy of light. That gave Aliza an idea.
The next day Aliza gathered all her friends from the neighborhood. “What can we do to add more light to Mr. Johnson’s life?” she asked.
Talya said, “Why don’t we make latkes for him?”
Ben said, “Why don’t we make some Christmas cookies?”
Ravi said, “We could make some ornaments.”
“Or even some holiday cards,” said Emily.
“Let’s do it all,” said Aliza. “And help Mr. Johnson not feel alone, especially this time of year.”
Aliza found her grandfather’s old Christmas tree in the basement. Her dad helped her carry it upstairs.
Talya had an extra menorah that she made in Sunday School.
Ravi took down one of his family’s Diwali lanterns.
Aliza and her friends loaded everything onto a wagon that they attached to Emily’s bicycle and carefully walked down to Mr. Johnson’s house.
Aliza knocked on the door. Slowly, the door opened. “Hi, Mr. Johnson. I’m Aliza. I live down the street.” But before she finished, Mr. Johnson looked at the wagon and said, “What’s all this?”
Aliza answered, “We’ve brought these things for you so you can share in the light of the holidays.”
Mr. Johnson remained silent.
Then Talya spoke up, “There are lots of different lights in our neighborhood. We wanted to know more about the little light in your window.”
Mr. Johnson took a deep breath and said, “Come in, and I’ll explain.”
As Aliza sat on the sofa in the living room, she looked around the house. That’s when she saw an old photograph of Mr. Johnson’s home, brightly lit for the holidays.
He turned to the kids and said, “My wife and I used to have the brightest house on the block.” Glancing momentarily at Aliza, he continued, “Like your parents, Aliza, my wife was raised celebrating Hanukkah, and I celebrated Christmas. Between the two holidays, we had plenty of light and love to go around. That is what this yahrzeit light symbolizes for me. It might seem like a small light to you, but to me, it lights up the entire universe.”
Talya began to understand how bright a single light could be. She said, “Let’s set the table and put out the cookies and latkes we made.”
Aliza and the other kids decorated the Christmas tree they had brought.
Aliza sat Mr. Johnson at the head of the table. Everybody enjoyed the impromptu party. With the house full of children, it already began to feel brighter.
Aliza invited everyone to the window. She carefully placed four candles in the menorah right next to the yahrzeit candle. Then, Aliza and Talya led their friends in the Hanukkah blessings. Those who didn’t know the words hummed along.
Aliza said, “It is getting late. I think we have to leave.” One by one, the kids said, “Goodnight, Mr. Johnson.” Aliza gave him a hug and said, “Happy holidays.”
Aliza walked to her house, wagon in tow.
When her mom came up to say good night, she said, “Aliza, it’s dark in your room. Don’t you want to turn on your night light?”
“No need, Mom. There’s enough light coming from Mr. Johnson’s house.”
On the evening that followed the visit to Mr. Johnson, as Aliza walked Mitzi, she saw that he had added lights to the Christmas tree and lit the menorah. Mr. Johnson opened the front door and called out to her, “The joy that you and your friends brought to me has lifted my holiday spirit.”
Sugar Maple Court is now truly the brightest street in town.
Glossary:
Diwali: the Indian Hindu five-day “festival of lights”—a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The third day is most important and outside of India, it is often only celebrated on that one day.
Hanukkah: Jewish holiday that celebrates a victory of the Israelites over the Assyrian Greeks. To celebrate, a candelabra is lit. Called a menorah or Hanukkiah, it has eight branches. On the first night, one candle is lit. On each succeeding night, one additional candle is lit. The candles are lit by a separate candle that sits to the side as the helper candle, called the shamash.
Kinara: Swahili for candle holder. The seven candles represent the Seven Principles (or Nguzo Saba) Kwanzaa. Red, green, and black are the symbolic colors of the holiday. During the week of Kwanzaa, a new candle is lit on the kinara each day.
Yahrzeit Memorial Candle: In Jewish tradition, a memorial candle is lit each year on the anniversary of a loved one’s death.
Other December holidays:
Bodhi Day: Observed by Buddhists on December 8.
Zarathosht Diso: Celebrated by those who follow Zoroastrianism on December 26.
