Winter Solstice

[feranaja]

Since yesterday's snowfall I can now believe it's close to the Winter Solstice - a Sabbat that for me has alwasy been a little eclipsed by the onrush of Crhistmas. SO much so that the two have become meshed, sort of one ongoing season of light and celebration. I have gone through periods where I was working the Wheel diligently and made my Yule ritual a priority and other times where it just wasn't possible. This year i want to do both., but it's demanding enough to deal with Christmas...what I'd like to ask is, how do those of you who celebrate the 8 seasonal festivals mange an effective Yule, in amidts all the frenzy?
I probably love the two Solstices more than any other ritual, so I hate to miss it. BUt it can get to be a tight squeeze with everything else that's going on this time of year.

Any Yule altars out there, post 'em here too...any special recipes? Traditions?

fera, just getting in the mood here...:laugh:

[YsetEternal]

Well, it's yet to snow in my part of MN, aside from a dusting, which of course I do not count. I do not know why, but I have only done one Yule ritual in the years of my practice. Very impromptu, and very cold, I might add. I was in 14" of snow, set up an altar on a tree stump and went about the ritual nekkid.

It was an experience to say the least.

It is a tight squeeze, and for me too, they have intermingled. I also think that after so long, the ritual becomes less important than the fact that we know why the ritual exists in the first place...

[Talkingfox]

Winter Solstice has always been a big deal for me. It's ESPECIALLY a big deal up here because the changes from the dark to light are so very dramatic. We lose and gain light with the seasons at about 5 minutes daily.

My normal Yule thing usually consists of a whole lot of live flame , enough food to feed a small country and a houseload of friends.

Last year, however, we had the death of a child in the family a few months prior. I spent the dark time in personal meditation and went outdoors at sunrise to welcome the light. It was really spectacular as the Northern Lights were had been blazing most of the night and they faded as the sun came up over the mountains. Lovely.

THIS year we're remodeling the house in preparation to sell, so I'll probably do the sameas last year. Big changes are coming in my life and I want my head undistracted.

[feranaja]

Yset: I can't even start to imagne dancing around naked outside in a Quebec winter. I think you need to try a less life threatening tradition? but my that was an entertaining image.

TF: I am so very sorry for your loss, there is nothing worse than losing a child. I am also in a dark time, and have been for a while with two huge losses in my family, not children but the two individuals I loved best, my 39 yr old brother and recently, my canine soulmate. Both died far too young, so there are parallels when a loved one dies before their time. I've read extensively on grief and losing a child seems to be among the worst experiences of it. I know it takes time and a lot of gentleness with yourself - whihc can include allowing yourself to be angry - before you are able to resume normal life. That said, we are never the same as we were. We just get better at coping with sorrow, I think.

I do love your image of Solstices past. This year I've booked a bunch of activities such as having my dog club up here for potluck, that will keep my spirits up. And I think greeting a Solstice morning with the Northern Lights must be a truly unforgettable thing. I've always wanted to see the North.

Good luck with whatever changes this coming year brings. :)
fera

[feranaja]

This is a bit late! But some of these recipes could of course be used anytime seasonally, and we don't all have the luxury of celebrating the Solstice right on the day. So better late than never - a few links to recipes for traditional and updates Yule-type food...inlcuding a feast for vegetarians.


http://www.unc.edu/%7Ereddeer/recipe/rec_yule.html


http://www.simnet.is/gardarj/yule12.htm
traditional recipes and lore from Iceland


http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulerecipes/Yule_Recipes.htm
this page has a link to vegan Yule recipes...

http://www.veganfamily.co.uk/yule.html
more vegan recipes

Justa few ideaas I've turned up so far...anymore seasonal recipes out there, personal traditions, old family secrets?

:)
fera

[MythMath]

Best Wishes to All...


MythMath
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[Sibylle]

I really don't get into any of this stuff, because Christmas permeates this season. But best wishes to you, if it matters to you. We become more hermit-like due to the Capitalistmas frenzy, but go along with what is necessary for business purposes - like the employee party and stuff like that. I can't ignore the society I live in entirely, but I avoid doing anything spiritual in the name of anything at this time.

I lied. I actually love Thanksgiving, and did not do anything special this year. But our anniversary is the 27th, and we're going to celebrate that with a turkey...among other things ;) My husband worked on Thanksgiving, and will work on Xmas as well, but we're going to do our thing on Tuesday. And I always seem to get excited about a New Year, a fresh start.

[Radiant Star]

I lied. I actually love Thanksgiving... :laugh:

And I always seem to get excited about a New Year, a fresh start.

Winter solstice is normally when I get all the winter woollens out and have a mini winter clean. I might normally reflect on the past year and make plans for the new one, this would normally follow up with ritual and a readiness to tackle Christmas and the numbered New Year, but though I had been looking forward to the solstice, I became unwell and so all celebrations and ritual are on hold for now, the good thing about that is I have longer to plan it now and it all to look forward to :D