For those of us who come from traditions where we bring the Holy Light home after the Paschal Liturgy (or if we're really tired, aftre the start of the Paschal Matins!), I was wondering if anyone still had their Holy Light going. This is the first year my Holy Light has made it through Bright Week. It involves having a candle stick near the vigil lamp to transfer the flame while the lamp is refilled and trimmed.
I have a Aunt who is able to keep her vigil lamp going all year long this way, and she would only extinguish it on Holy Saturday. Apparently, this was my Pontian grandmother's custom who, even during the Nazi Occupation traded ouzo for olive oil to keep the family vigil lamp going. I think that in times of distress and dire need, when our resources are stretched to the limit is precisely the time we need a reminder that God is with us, and that we were created for better things, so I can understand the need to keep a vigil lamp going even when times are tough. It reminds me of that beautiful poem by Shirazi:
"If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And of thy meager store
Two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul."