Happy Solstice!!!
The Shortest Day
So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us–Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!
—Susan Cooper
Pictures of our celebration coming soon. We spent yesterday on the little organic farm we love- a hayride, roasted corn, and a grape tomato seedling to bring home. It felt like a fitting celebration for a solstice. In Florida we’re lucky to have sun in the winter (the problem is too much in the summer!), so we’re busy planting.
Last night John spent three hours dipping candles for our solstice dinner tonight. We have two purple ice-cube pillar candles to burn, his tapers, and abundant little lights. Stockings to dig into, some treats to eat. It should be fun. May your holiday celebrating be merry and bright- happy solstice to all and to all, a great (long) night.
