Happy holidays from the Hammer Museum! Over the next two weeks, we will be sharing holiday-themed artworks for the #HammerHolidays.
Light plays a large role in the holiday season. It is traditional to don our houses and trees with lights. In the Christmas story, the light from a star guided the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem and represented the birth of Christ.
In the Jewish tradition, light is symbolic of God’s spirit and guidance. The word Chanukah means “festival of light” in Hebrew. In the Chanukah story, the Jews were fighting for their freedom were seeking refuge in a temple. They needed light from their menorah, yet they only had enough oil to last one night of light. Chanukah is celebrated because this oil provided eight nights of light, instead of one.
Light is significant in the holiday celebrating African American culture, Kwanzaa. On each of the seven nights of Kwanzaa, we light one of the candles on the kinara. Each candle represents different principles such as unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from the Hammer Museum. We have many exciting things planned for the new year, and we look forward to seeing you in 2018!
Sarah M. Golonka, Members Reception for Winter 2017 Exhibitions, January 28, 2017.