WE easily fail to notice that the longest night occurs on December 21 and then the days are already getting longer by Christmas Day.

However, some countries such as Germany do recognise the dark nights of Advent as a serious festival in itself.

Many faiths use symbols associated with dark skies. The simplest of Christmas symbols is a star. Jews have the Star of David and for many Muslims the crescent moon and star are more than just symbols on flags. Whilst the nights are still getting longer Hindus and Sikhs celebrate Diwali/Deepawali. Candles are often used as a sign of good overcoming evil, but the darkness has to be taken seriously and this can stop our celebrations descending into sentimentality.

For some people a night flight means a cut-price winter trip from Leeds-Bradford to Tenerife. If the busyness of Christmas is not your scene and this provides you with peace and refreshment, it may give you some space to think about how your life is going and just as important, where the world is going. For Matthew chapter 2: 13-15, night flight is about escaping the death threats of a tyrant and the flight of Joseph and Mary and the baby into Egypt has been the subject of Christian art down the centuries (try Googling Adam Elsheimer, Flight).

I have always seen the birth stories in Matthew and Luke as imaginative early Christian legends rather than history but I would not want to lose the powerful truths that they contain – and what they mean for today’s world.

Europe is facing a refugee crisis – not for the first time. The immediate priority for this country is doing its share of resettling unaccompanied children from Appledore in Kent – at least the child refugee Jesus was accompanied by his parents! The good news is that Bradford is willingly playing its part as a City of Sanctuary with a lot of experience in such matters. Meanwhile, for me, one of the briefest yet most encouraging visits of the autumn was to the AALYA fundraising fun day in Frizinghall. Mohammed Javed, who founded the charity to offer support to refugees, was solidly backed by a powerful group of cheerful Muslim women.

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress get to see the best stuff across the district. We are able to bear good news from one part of Bradford Met to other places, voluntary groups, faith organisations, schools, businesses, sports clubs and arts groups are all delighted to show us what they do well.

We see not only excellence and innovation but huge reservoirs of generosity across a district of many landscapes and diverse cultures.

“I Love Bradford” is much more than a slogan to get into the Guinness Book of Records. There are thousands across the district with a heart for their local communities.

Give thanks that you live in such a fascinating district. As the days lengthen, may you enjoy the Christmas break and, in spite of all the problems and uncertainties, may you go into 2017 with confidence and hope.

COUNCILLOR GEOFF REID

Lord Mayor of Bradford