Month of May Photo Challenge. Day 2: Fire

At my National Honors Society initiation in high school, each initiate was given a candle, which represents knowledge. During the lighting ceremony, we dimmed the auditorium lights and passed the flame from one neighbor to another until the entire room flickered with candlelight. This symbolizes the passing on of knowledge from teachers to students, from mentors to tutees, from friend to friend.

The Greek Titan Prometheus risked himself and stole from the gods two gifts to give to humankind: fire, and the ability to heal. Giving us the ability to cook food, fire is a symbol of civilization and evolution. With candlelight vigils to commemorate a memorable event, it shows unity and hope. In storms and electrical blackouts, we revert to candlelight, a light in the darkness when all other lights fail.