Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Here Comes The Sun

Tonight, the longest night of the year gives birth to the return of the Sun in our part of the planet. The infant Sun is tended by Mother Nature, who, busy with her babe, lets the world fend for itself with all she's provided the rest of the year. It's the beginning of Winter here, where the white of the snow  will help make days bright until Spring brings us light and warmth again.

Some religions celebrate it as the Birth of the Sun King or the Oak King, some as simply the turn of the Wheel of theYear. Yule is the Festival of Light to me. Here's a nice summary, for the curious:
https://www.msu.edu/user/rohdemar/earth/sabbats/yule.html

I have traditions, some taught, some adapted, some straight out of Christmas traditions. The tree must be up by St. Lucia's Day, the first day of the coming of the light. An advent, if you will. From then until the Solstice (Yule), decorations go up, lights are added and they're all lit on the Solstice night. What you don't have done by the Solstice must be left undone, itself a reminder of preparing for the barren season and the consequences of inaction. Symbols of light and survival, celebration and silliness, the importance of laughter in the darkness, kindness and charity for those not so well-prepared, are all part of Yule. Hope and faith are in there, too. Hope that the Great Good (as represented by the Sun) will come back, faith that it always has before and will return this time as it always does. Reassurance that nothing, good or bad, lasts forever.

In this darkest night of the year, I wish us all light. In these uncertain times, I wish reassurance. And in the sadness, joy.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDW1U8PyAXo

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6j4TGqVl5g 

Solstice happens at 12:30 a.m. EST tonight. Happy Solstice, fellow babies. ;)

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a perfectly sensible set of beliefs to me....happy solstice...happy winter.....

Austan said...

Thanks Lawless, a Happy Solstice to you along with the Merriest of Christmases ever. May Father Snow be gentle to you, too.

Anonymous said...

I'm hoping he completely forgets where I live.

Austan said...

Every year he seems to be seeking more southern climes, himself!

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I have been so busy, I forgot what today was. That is very unusual for me as I always think that this might be the darkest day, but tomorrow will be different. It is all uphill from now on.

If I don't get a chance to check in till after Christmas, I wish you, Laura, all the joy of the season. So glad you are home to celebrate this time of year.

Austan said...

Thank you Arleen, you were one who helped hold me together thru one of the hardest times ever. All the best to you and Merry Christmas!

Twisted Scottish Bastard said...

Enjoy your solstice.
The only real tradition in my family is getting pissed by 12:00 on Christmas Day.

sdt (a.k.a. stevil) said...

Bestest for the season of light and beyond

And I like Twisted Scottish Bastard's reply.

Austan said...

TSB- lol! That's a great tadition to carry on!

sdt- And to you too, Dahling.

Allyson said...

i shared this post with a friend, and this was the response they sent to me after telling me that i was right, they loved it. Thought you would appreciate:

Tonight is the start of the return journey... the receding of the darkness. I have only to struggle forward toward the open cellar door... picking up my pace in the darkness, unsure of what is behind me, but knowing surely it is in fact behind me...

The lighted cellar door growing larger with each step... the cold cellar clinging to me, thick, wanting... but I see the light and it grows... and I laugh and almost cry out at it... moments until I reach the stairs and grab the rail... shuffling, crawling and running up the stairs... hopefully to fling myself into the light, tears streaming down my cheeks... the light a shelter from the grabbing darkness.

Austan said...

That's just beautiful. I know how that feels. Thanks, Al.