The boy and the husband and I stayed up 'til the wee hours to watch the lunar eclipse, which in our location was a cloud-filtered patch of light that disappeared on cue.... and never came back. The snow rolled in and the clouds thickened and though we waited until the appointed hour of re-emergence and beyond, it was not to be. It was still exciting to see such a rare event, though without visual confirmation of the moon's return, I was seized with a sudden nostalgia for Space 1999.
Getting back to the topic of this post: Today is Winter Solstice. I've had an urge for several years now to mark or celebrate it in some fashion, but it always seems to sneak by me in the hustle of Christmas preparation. Since moving to Whistler, we have become intimately connected to the natural rhythm of the seasons like never before, and it seems right and proper to incorporate these seasonal milestones into our family awareness - to mark their significance, take notice.
I'm fascinated by the range of traditions occurring around this time of year on the theme of light prevailing in the midst of deepest darkness. Our own family practices in that regard are pretty much limited to lights on a tree... and I'm really interested in exploring and expanding that. So here's my question: What sort of traditions, celebrations, or practices do you observe around this time of year that pertain to light? Any and all: religious, non-religious, ethnic/cultural/historical traditions, strictly personal celebrations or practices... not necessarily limited to this particular day, but happening in the general vicinity.
Leave your answer in the comments (or link to your blog if you've already posted on the topic or want to say something more expansive). I'll keep the contest open until the end of this year, and January 1st I'll draw one name at random to receive three skeins of any in-stock yarn of the winner's choice (cashmere, silk, sock... anything they like.)
I've never celebrated solstice per se, just been glad for the fact of days getting longer. It was much more of a big deal for me when we lived in Scotland... much farther north than I am now in the BC lower mainland... winter was very dark and the days were very short. I do like to have lots of "christmas" lights up around this time of year, though, and I do light candles at every opportunity :)
Posted by: wendy | 23/12/2010 at 11:35 PM
For a variety of reasons I'm looking to make some new traditions - so I love this post and these comments. (Even if I don't use anything in specific, it makes me think about possibilities.)
The solstice is more important to me than the rest of the holidays, but also more private and simple. The baking I do for everyone else, the lights go up (and out) for me. (The environmentalist in me can't justify the tree but I blame it on the cats and tell everyone the outside tree will have to do.)
I love the idea of "intentions" rather than resolutions. (My intention, btw, is to make peace with my job and the 'stuff' in the house.)
I do walk the dog (and a lot of dogs) a lot. I make sure to get them out in a full moon in winter to enjoy the winter light. (Extra special full moon eclipse on the solstice - like a gift from the planet.) (No, I do not worry about wandering the woods in the dark with 600 pounds of big trained dogs.)
After that - the rest of the season is for culture/family/friends. I do the things I like that seem appropriate or enjoyed and skip the rest that has bad memories or no meaning.
Posted by: Bullwinkle | 24/12/2010 at 02:24 AM
Solstice is the first night of the year that we put a fire in the wood burning fireplace in our livingroom (usually we just use the gas fireplace downstairs). The mantle is covered in mismatched candles which I hide behind evergreen boughs so the whole firplace glows.
Posted by: elan | 24/12/2010 at 05:28 AM
I track the time the sun sets and rises, and the length of the day. It cheers me that the sun starts setting later in the afternoon a week or so before the actual solstice, even though the days continue to get shorter.
Posted by: Kathy | 24/12/2010 at 06:11 AM
Our immediate family has been celebrating Winter Solstice for decades. We used to have a family dinner by candlelight but now with the small grandkids, I gave them a bunch of those chemical-powered light bracelets instead (saved from Halloween). After decorating everyone, even their baby cousin, we all had a glowing dance in the dark to welcome back the Sun. It was fun!
Now I just have to get through cooking a huge turkey dinner for about 28 members of our extended family. Whew! I like Solstice much better. No expectations because we make it up as we go.
Posted by: Louisa | 24/12/2010 at 01:26 PM
Strings and strings of lights - inside on the real tree whihc stays up through much of January - and outside on the trees and bushes - also stay on until everyone else has unplugged. It is the only thing that keeps me going when the long dark nights prevail - when it gets dark at 5pm I feel dread coming on - but when the lights go up it changes me dramatically.
I also love forced bulbs - all kinds - but especially huge amaryllis and paperwhites in glass containers with stones and water so I can see everything from the roots to the slowers - makes me FEEL that life and spring are really coming back despite all the cold darkness.
Posted by: Johanna Krishnan | 24/12/2010 at 07:27 PM
I like to get outside and really take in the night sky and celebrate the longest night of the year. Especially this year with the lunar eclipse!
Posted by: Robin | 25/12/2010 at 11:28 PM
Our family's celebration is also pretty much limited to lights on the tree, but as someone who lives with depression exacerbated by winter and the shorter hours of daylight, I do a little happy dance when I know the days are once again starting to get longer and brighter.
Posted by: Karen VR | 26/12/2010 at 01:05 AM
Thank you, and all your commenters, for this thread. I've come back a few times to read the responses - for a variety of reasons I've been looking for some "new-to-me" traditions.
I'm not sure what I'll hold onto - Mother Nature did give us the (spectacular)eclipse this year ;) and that is hard to recreate, or out-do.
Happy Holidays to you!
Posted by: Bullwinkle | 26/12/2010 at 04:11 PM
We light the Hanukkah candles, aware of our link to pagan festivals of eras past. It is a minor holiday on the calendar, but it marks the change in the light for us.
Posted by: Laurie | 27/12/2010 at 03:25 AM
We're just big on the Christmas lights. This year, the kids got to have a string of lights in their bedrooms, and love having them on while they fall asleep. Our new tradition may well be the part where we sneak into their bedrooms to unplug the Christmas lights once they're asleep.
Posted by: Gladys | 27/12/2010 at 09:29 PM
Winter Solstice -- it became a thing with us when we were married on December 21st and hoped that no one but us would notice that we were married on the longest night of the year! (No one noticed) Now as December gets darker we always look forward to the change when more light creeps in morning and night.
It comes with looking forward to Christmas. We aren't great candle people, but I always have a candle on the table during this Season. For the last 3 or 4 years at least I have noted the increase or decrease of light each day in my diary It comes with the daily weather forecast. Christmas Eve brought a minute more light on the morning and evening of the day. Got to thinking about it and thought how symbolical with the celebration of Christmas. The prophet Isaiah said in the old testament that Christ would come as a great light into darkness. After seeing the added light on Christmas Eve I thought, Yes, Jesus came into the world as a small insignificant light on a very dark night, but through his life and death and resurrection is known as The Light of the World. Has winter solstice have significance for me? -- Even more since thinking about that.
Posted by: Anna Lee | 28/12/2010 at 10:24 AM
I live by myself and don't do much decorating I'm sorry to say. I put candles out though because they're easy and the candlelight is so pretty. After the solstice I make sure sure everyone knows that every day it stays light a minute longer.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year.
Posted by: Sandra | 29/12/2010 at 04:03 AM
The darkness at this time of year has never bothered me. I find it rather cozy, but the best thing about
Solstice/Christmas are the twinkling lights and candles glowing in said darkness. It just wouldn't be the same without them.
Posted by: Danby | 31/12/2010 at 08:12 AM
hmmmm ... I thought I posted here earlier.
I had nothing to offer in terms of traditions - it was just a note to say thank you for doing this. For a variety of reasons, I'm looking to make a few new traditions in our house. I came back a few times to check the comments - and this final time because you posted a winner. (Yay Linda!)
This is a wonderful, gentle, set of ideas. My theme for the year is "sustainable". I feel guilty that it is not as glitzy as some others but I search for (more) balance and flow (fewer roller coasters).
Posted by: Bullwinkle | 02/01/2011 at 02:19 AM