User:Zompeng

6th April 1896 – In Athens, the opening of the first modern Olympic Games is celebrated, 1,500 years after the original games are banned by Roman emperor Theodosius I. In celebration of this historical event it has been tradition to decorate and light chimenys across Europe and most of the developed world. Though there is generally a theme accredited to each event it is also generally accepted to simply use any decor.

The chimney was chosen a symbol due to its abundance and significance; heat, light and also signalling uses pertaining to the Olympic torch. Obviously light symbolises hope and the strive for betterment of self and smoke signals were often used to relay the standings of marathon runners and other messages important to the good functioning of the games.

This tradition was unfortunately left to abandon in central Europe during the second world war (1939 - 1945) where the lit fireplaces would supply the Luftwaffe with a means of identifying larger urbanisations during nighttime bombing raids.

There has however been a recent resurgence in this tradition over the years but it is no longer directly associated with the Olympic games but rather has been seen as a means of "leaving a light on in the dark" symbolising that all hope in humanity is not lost and that we may still strive for our own betterment as a species.