We’re not actually pagans at our house.
(Surprised?)
In fact, we think ourselves rather committed to all things Godly. But today, on this Winter Solstice, we have a little bit of a heathen celebration. Every year. Because, you know, this is an important day. It’s the shortest day of the year. Meaning (by logical extension – see if you can follow me) that tomorrow will be a little bit longer than today. There will be more theoretical sun time (even if it keeps snowing until our house is buried*). And days will continue to stretch a little longer every single day until Spring comes, and beyond.
And that feels good. Spring, I mean. And also longer days.
When I was in college, I took an American Folklore class, which was a perfect combination of cool and ridiculous. One day, our teacher (he was a grad student who always needed a haircut, and I regularly had to resist the urge to fix his tie) invited in a pair of witches to guest lecture.
They were weird, I’m not going to lie to you.
They explained Wicca business, and it was strange and earthy and slightly unwashed. But then they said this. “When we see the first crocus of Spring, we kneel down and say a prayer to Mother Earth, thanking her for the world’s rebirth.”
And I got simultaneous chills and shivers. Like, “Yes! I do that, too!” and also, “Wow. That is truly strange.” CLARIFICATION: I don’t pray to Mother Earth. If you do, right on. I’m partial to praying to God, myself, but I respect your right to go your own way. But I do say a little prayer of thanks when I see shoots and blooms popping up through the muddy springtime ground. I get wet knees and possibly a smudge of mud on my nose from exploring REALLY closely.
And it’s coming. Closer every day, starting today.
So we’ll celebrate with our tomato-basil soup and our homemade bread, and our shoveling and our slipping around. We’ll enjoy this last darkest day, and we’lllook forward to what is to come — today, this weekend, and several months in the future.
But if we go without showering for more than 24 hours, please send help.
*8.5 inches between last night and 6:0 a.m.
(14) Comments for this blog
Oh, that doesn’t sound good at all. We fly in to SLC airport tomorrow night. I hope it’s clear by then. Happy Winter Solstice, Becca!
Oh, that doesn’t sound good at all. We fly in to SLC airport tomorrow night. I hope it’s clear by then. Happy Winter Solstice, Becca!
Just curious… was the “I respect your right to go your own way” an allusion to Wicca’s own Stevie Nicks, or did I make that link all on my own?
Just curious… was the “I respect your right to go your own way” an allusion to Wicca’s own Stevie Nicks, or did I make that link all on my own?
I sing a Spring Aria, myself. There’s nothing like seeing new life emerge. Although, I admit, I’m loving the snow this season. Which is NOT me but for some reason, it’s delicate and lovely and fleeting. And I feel like this year, we understand each other, snow and I.
Merry Christmas, Becca!
I sing a Spring Aria, myself. There’s nothing like seeing new life emerge. Although, I admit, I’m loving the snow this season. Which is NOT me but for some reason, it’s delicate and lovely and fleeting. And I feel like this year, we understand each other, snow and I.
Merry Christmas, Becca!
That sounds yummy (can I come for dinner?) and fun (we have barely an inch so far in Farmington)…Way to celebrate the solstice. It’s a good analogy for things getting better when they’re at their darkest, no?
xx
That sounds yummy (can I come for dinner?) and fun (we have barely an inch so far in Farmington)…Way to celebrate the solstice. It’s a good analogy for things getting better when they’re at their darkest, no?
xx
Becca, that was so beauteous. Truly. I got chills (the good kind).
Becca, that was so beauteous. Truly. I got chills (the good kind).
We really got into the spirit of the shortest day of the year this year, by spending the entire day (from about 4:30am to 5:30pm) without electricity…and about a foot of snow! We ate soup that we warmed in a pot on the fire, and home canned peaches for dinner! Hope you’re having fun!!!
We really got into the spirit of the shortest day of the year this year, by spending the entire day (from about 4:30am to 5:30pm) without electricity…and about a foot of snow! We ate soup that we warmed in a pot on the fire, and home canned peaches for dinner! Hope you’re having fun!!!
What a cool post. I feel that same sense of celebration, and actually think I do say a silent prayer of thanks when I see February fading away.
Witches in class? I think I would have been totally fascinated.
What a cool post. I feel that same sense of celebration, and actually think I do say a silent prayer of thanks when I see February fading away.
Witches in class? I think I would have been totally fascinated.