The lighting of the Christmas tree

"The Lighting of the Christmas Tree" by Josephine Ludlow Palmer is a play that explores the true meaning of Christmas through themes like kindness and second chances. The story takes place in a Swedish home on Christmas Eve, where a family, including Olga and her husband, are getting ready for a happy celebration. Their plans are shaken up when Ruster, a flutist who has fallen on very hard times, shows up at their door. Olga is worried about how Ruster might affect her children, but she also feels like she should help him. As the family thinks about Ruster being there, they start to see their own faults in not helping those who need it. Everything comes together on Christmas, when Ruster is welcomed back into the home. It symbolizes hope and the idea that love and togetherness can change people for the better, leading everyone to celebrate together with the lighting of the Christmas tree.