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Máire Uí Mhaicín | all galleries >> 2007-2009 >> PAD Challenges >> 2008 Monthly Themes >> Our Cultural Heritage : December Challenge, 2008 > L: Light in the window
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L: Light in the window

An older image, reprocessed today, of a window in a house in rural Ireland where it is still the custom to place lighted candles in the window at Christmas time to indicate hospitality to strangers who may be seeking shelter.
The theme of the candle in the window was taken up by our first woman president, Mary Robinson, when she placed a light in one of the windows of the President's Residence to assure those scattered to the four corners of the earth by the necessity of emigration that there would be a welcome for them in their homeland.


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Harrison16-Dec-2008 23:30
Very nice.
mathilda williams14-Dec-2008 17:56
Maire, this is beautiful :)
It's really beginning to look a lot like Christmas, eh....
Guest 13-Dec-2008 19:03
Lovely image and wonderful tradition... thanks for sharing!
carol j. phipps13-Dec-2008 18:44
Beautiful gesture!
j>a>e>17 :):):)13-Dec-2008 10:37
your heart's flamezzz alwayzzz inspire me magic maire...such cherished illunination, j>a>e>17 :):):)
Maaike Huizer13-Dec-2008 09:32
That is a lovely tradition. And a lovely image.
Sam Stevenson13-Dec-2008 00:44
Lovely, soft light.
Cindi Smith13-Dec-2008 00:39
Keep a candle burning in the window....I do the same thing at Christmas but this year I'm not decorating. No time and won't be here anyway. Beautiful and very warm feel to this one!
Yvonne12-Dec-2008 23:55
A beautiful tradition and gorgeous sunny shot, but I'm worried about the lacy curtains
catching fire too!
Pat Shawyer12-Dec-2008 22:57
How wonderful Maire, I enjoyed reading your description too !
Richard Chapman12-Dec-2008 22:24
A great tradition, well captured
cits_4_pets12-Dec-2008 22:07
Lovely candlelit scene, nice composition.
J. Scott Coile12-Dec-2008 22:04
A welcomed sign!
Kathryn12-Dec-2008 21:43
This is so beautiful, and what a wonderful tradition.
Lovely Maire.
Jim Larkin12-Dec-2008 20:18
What a welcoming shot. I love it. I love it in YOUR house. My house would burn down. 18 month old babies and candles near curtains don't work out so well.
Phillip Normanton12-Dec-2008 20:15
Very pretty - sort of the tasteful side of Christmas :) They should watch that candle though, it looks awfully close to those lace curtains....
jlm12-Dec-2008 18:47
Nice composition
Johnny JAG12-Dec-2008 17:21
A very welcome sight.
Paco López12-Dec-2008 16:53
Excellent details and beautifl tradition!! V!
Mairéad12-Dec-2008 15:27
A lovely image Máire of an old Irish tradition. I remember that for my mother having a red candle to place in the window on Christmas Eve was more important than all the other Christmas decorations. I remember being told that it meant that a welcome would be given to Joseph and Mary were they to call seeking 'room at the inn'.
Jeff Lobaugh12-Dec-2008 14:41
Wonderful tradition!!
Jola Dziubinska12-Dec-2008 14:37
Beautiful! Nice tradition, indeed.
Kerry Tingley12-Dec-2008 13:20
What a wonderful thought (albeit dangerous with the beautiful curtain hanging there next to it!) The theme of hospitality goes through all of the western cultures with Christmas. The lights on the houses, the luminarias (candles glowing in paper bags to welcome the Christ child), lights to guide the 3 Kings and glowing candles to welcome family, friends and strangers to your hearth. Big V!
laine8212-Dec-2008 13:20
A lovely tradition & I love the real holly too
Sheila12-Dec-2008 13:12
This is a lovely tradition. I love the ambience in your shot, the light and warmth.
Nice to see real holly.