celebrating winter solstice and holiday season

Winter Solstice Lore and Ritual

Subdued by the light, some may fear the long coming night.  But tis Winter Solstice Sabbat which occurs on or about December 21st, when the Sun is at 1° Capricorn.  This traditionally marks the midway point of the dark part of the year. Yet, fears fall off within the next few hours when we begin to see an increase in light, which is why we celebrate the rebirth of the Sun on the Winter Solstice. There are myth cycles, which tell of the Oak and Holly Kings, of the Dying and Rebirth of God, that develop dramatically on this Sabbat. This celebration is re-energized from the additional  celebrations, such as Christmas and Hanukkah. For many, the Winter Solstice Sabbat marks the beginning of a week-long family celebration which includes Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

In my favorite myth, of the Oak and Holly Kings, the two gods meet again for another battle.( During the Summer Solstice, the Holly King, God of the Waning Year, defeated the Oak King, God of the Waxing Year.) However, when they meet on the longest night of the year, the outcome is reversed—the Oak King defeats the Holly King.  Celebrating the victory of the Oak King.

So don ye, thy frocks and thy woollies, thy hoods and thy follies,  (though this year most won't see thy much desired winter________ and temperatures are temperate.) So light a torch to see ye through the hours and bring morn full of light. 

eyes through winter

Trees still pay attention though they might not attract visitors except those that seek their shelter.

Gathering ideas for my up coming 2012 project: a year of fascicles. 

first page is forming.  stitching will come through tonight to celebrate the shortest and the coming of light's return

6:00 pm

Postscript regarding the term "fascicle."  If you go to this Link: About Emily Dickinson's Fascicles you will find a short articles describing the use of the term as I'm going to regard it for my 2012 project. According to the Encyclopedia of the Book, (Oak Knole Press & the British Library, 1996, the term can be generally defined as: a single number of a work published in instalments.  Also called fascicule or fasciculus. I like to think of them as little pamphlets that Emily Dickinson stitched to fit into the palm of her hand - to hold her poems and her secrets in the drawer of the writing desk where she would sit and compose her thoughts.  In total she made 40 fascicles but many more hundreds of poems were also found on individual pages.  She was known to write on any paper surface she'd find.  A true bricoleur.  

I had a few comments that left some visitors puzzled by my use of the word so I hope this provides a little insight into how I'm interpreting the term.  

Thank you for finding you way here and stopping by.