A Jain Reflection on Christmas and Winter

Walking through London in December, it is hard not to get swept up in the magic. Fairy lights wrap around bare trees, cafés swap out iced drinks for seasonal hot chocolates topped with whipped cream, and houses slowly fill with family and friends gathering in Christmas jumpers for celebrations. Streets glow with warm yellow lights, Mariah Carey is playing in almost every store, and even the grey winter sky seems a little softer. There is something moving about how Christmas pushes back against winter’s heaviness.

For many of my friends, this is their time of year – Christmas markets, carols, and family traditions. As a Jain in the UK, I often find myself in a bit of a “festive limbo”. I’m walking through the crowds, feeling the warmth of the holiday spirit, yet I know this is not exactly my festival. Christmas, at least on the surface, can feel very external: lights, decorations, presents, parties. Jainism, on the other hand, often points inwards – towards reflection, peace, and inner transformation. Over the past few years, I have noticed an unexpected connection between the two. Each Christmas, I am reminded of the importance of light – not just outside but within us.

When I see Christmas lights now, I don’t just think “festive decorations”. I think about light as a symbol of hope in dark times, warmth in the cold, and guidance when we feel lost. In Jainism, we often talk about the inner light of the soul – the potential for knowledge, compassion, and peace that is already within us. The language of light naturally resonates with the description of gyan (knowledge) as the inner lamp that enables the soul to truly see. Jain texts often describe knowledge as an inner illumination, the light that reveals reality as it is. When looking up at the huge Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square or walking past yet another row of twinkling windows in London, it is easy to feel both impressed by the decorations and be reminded that the external lights are only half the story. The other half is whether anything inside is actually being lit.

During the frantic rush of the holiday season – and the looming pressure of post-Christmas exams – it is easy for our inner light to be dimmed by stress or consumerism. While others are decorating trees, perhaps we can take a couple of minutes to decorate our inner selves with peace and clarity.  For me, that can look like a few minutes of quiet reflection, visiting the derasar (temple), or simply giving time to myself.  At the heart of Christmas, underneath all the consumerism, are themes of charity, love, and caring for others. Many churches and community spaces run food banks, homeless shelters, and charity drives during this festive period, which reminds me of my Jain values – daya (compassion), sewa (service), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness).

As a Jain, I don’t celebrate Christmas religiously, but I no longer see it as “not my festival.” Instead, it’s a seasonal reminder to turn toward my inner light, live closer to my values, and bring warmth and understanding into spaces that may feel forgotten or divided. While the world may celebrate the birth of Jesus with carols and feasts, I reflect on my actions and strive to reduce harm in my choices. At the heart of both journeys is the same feeling: to become a little kinder, wiser, and more awake. As days grow shorter and nights colder, let’s remember the brightest light isn’t on a tree or window, but the one we carry within us through values, knowledge, and compassion.

Hrutika Shah
JSF Vice President