Many Africans build their homes so that the rising sun can shine in through the doorway. So welcoming the Light is a very old tradition. Here are details of the Christian Christmas customs of South Africa, with open-air carol services and street lights sparkling; the Jewish festival of light, Hannukah; and Diwali, which drives darkness from the mind of Hindus as clay lamps and electric lights bring nightly brilliance to Durban.