Today is Epiphany, the twelfth, and last day of Christmas. Epiphany is the celebration of the arrival of the magi and in some churches and homes, the kings aren't placed in the creche/nativity scene until this day, having been placed somewhere further east in the house/church. It's the day when children in Latin America receive gifts to commemorate the gifts given by the wise men. The text, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." from Isaiah 60:1 is used on this date. The season of Epiphany lasts until February 2 (Candlemas) or the day before Ash Wednesday that marks the beginning of Lent, depending on which tradition is followed and is a time of celebrating the return of light.
Today's shots are of light in the darkness seen at the Point Defiance Zoo when we attended Zoolights, their annual holiday light show about which I'll post later. It was a cold night and warming up in the South Pacific aquarium structure was delightful although not so much for my camera as the lens got fogged up from the temperature and humidity change. By the time we got to the mid pacific area, the temperature had dropped a bit and the lens fog cleared enough to get these shots of Japanese jelly fish.
The realization that this light increase doesn't bring back warmth yet and the coldest months are here dampens the excitement a bit.
Today's shots are of light in the darkness seen at the Point Defiance Zoo when we attended Zoolights, their annual holiday light show about which I'll post later. It was a cold night and warming up in the South Pacific aquarium structure was delightful although not so much for my camera as the lens got fogged up from the temperature and humidity change. By the time we got to the mid pacific area, the temperature had dropped a bit and the lens fog cleared enough to get these shots of Japanese jelly fish.
Isn't nature beautiful and interesting?
Arise, shine, for your light has come!
The nights still feel long but the knowledge that the light is returning little by little is reassuring!
The realization that this light increase doesn't bring back warmth yet and the coldest months are here dampens the excitement a bit.
Only 72 more days until spring!
Beautiful, ephemeral photos, Peter! Jellyfish are my favorites - so incredibly amazing. As for Epiphany in more secular terms - that was the day back in 1987, that I first set foot in a snowy airport in Ohio to take on the US. I left for a few years in the middle, but I still regard that as my moving date. :) Feels like so long ago...
ReplyDeleteSurrealistic.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great shots of the jellyfish.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate 'seeing' through your eyes, the things I'd miss otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThe jellyfish are magical. I hope you enjoy your Twelfth Night celebration!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting portrayal of light!
ReplyDeleteWe took the outside lights down today and now there is darkness outside my windows. I miss the light.
Spectacular shots! We were there in 2008 but I didn't get any shots like that! My husband has two grandchildren out there. (http://webcroft.blogspot.com/2008/12/zoolights.html)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely news: 72 more days until spring, Peter. Now when is Epiphany, we are in very cold, -22C (-3 F). I liked the photos of jellyfishes, they love light and their floating is a magical. Here Epiphany is on 19th.
ReplyDelete