Winter Solstice

Yesterday was the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and the longest night. It was cold and murky and grey and wet here in North Yorkshire, it really was an awful day weather-wise.

I wanted to celebrate the day in some way, felt that this particular day in the year was important and worth celebrating. I wanted very much to do something light and bright and celebration-ish with my family, to start something that might in future years become a Family Tradition. And I would dearly love to tell you that my family felt the same, but honestly, I would be telling you a big fat fib. And as I am all for honesty, I have to confess that truthfully, they didn't care at all for celebrating Winter Solstice.

So it was me who made the sun decoration above. I did ask for the Little People to help, but they weren't interested in the slightest. I could not even entice them with the promise of a new tube of squeezy gold glitter glue. So I crafted alone.

I had this idea that we could make some jam-jar lanterns :: four of them, so that we could each light a candle. So down to the cellar to my stash of Bonne Mamman jars, and into the Little People's craft cupboard for some Gummed Paper Squares (oh how I love these!). I did not get a lot of enthusiasm here either. Little Lady was pretty happy to help out, but Little Man (who to be fair was not feeling very well)threw a minor tantrum when I asked him to decorate a jar. He stropped, and moaned and groaned and eventually managed to drag himself to the table but with the sourest face you have ever seen. It was not an awful lot of fun round our crafting table, but hey-ho I did my best.

And tantrums and grumpiness aside, between us we did manage to produce four decorated jars.

A bit haphazard, a little rough and ready, but still quite cheerful and colourful.

I went to my local candle shop and spent a delicious time sniffing all the seasonal festive Yankee Candles. So hard to choose! Should I go for Christmas Wreath? Gingerbread? Eggnog? In the end I chose Silver Bells and it's utterly gorgeous, kind of a christmas tree smell "with fresh notes of cypress, spruce, apple, wild berry, clove and white cedar".

As well as candles I also needed some greenery. Now in my mind, I had imagined that we would all go out for a lovely, jolly country walk to collect some bits of evergreen foliage to bring back home. It would be such a lovely thing to do on a Mid Winter's Day!

But it didn't quite work out like that. No. It was wet. And cold. And Little Man really was not feeling great, and J had locked himself in the Attic working all day. What to do? Go out alone, that's what. So out I went with a shopping bag (Cath Kidston of course) in the pouring rain, and proceeded to surreptitiously attack some local hedges down near the canal. Trying to do it quickly and discreetly whilst wearing my very un-subtle green coat with scarlet lining to blend in. I felt really bad doing it. I mean, just look what I did :: I stole someones rosemary!! And I hacked a good few branches off a beautiful ivy!! Naughty, naughty me!!!

But no matter, the Contraband Greenery was essential, because I had read that on Winter Solstice, wreaths have to be made from evergreens to represent the closing of the year, the circle of life etc etc. So an evergreen wreath I had to make. Well I did my best. It was sort of a circle anyway.

And we lit our lovely scented candles, in the haphazardly decorated jars, surrounded by the Contraband Greenery in a rough wreathy-type circle, and it looked and smelt rather beautiful I thought.

I had also read that as well as candles and wreaths, we should be thinking about burning a log. Not just any old log, but a Yule Log. Hmm, I wasn't quite sure what a Yule Log should look like?  And quite frankly I didn't feel like going out on my own to procure a Yule Log from the woods, I already felt really bad about the Greenery situation. So instead I selected a log from the fireside log basket and attempted to make it Yule-ish. I used the bits if evergreen which didn't make it into the wreath, and tied them to the log with some natural raffia. eh Voila! One Yule Log!

Of course, it was not immediately obvious that this was a symbolic and Special Log. A Yule Log no less. I had quite a bit of explaining to do. And my explanations were met with much raising of the eyebrows let me tell you. What with the smelly candles and the Stolen Greenery and the trussed up log, it was all a bit much for J to take. He thinks I'm half way to Loopy-land at the best of times, and this sort of thing just kind of makes me seem even more loop-the-loop than ever I guess. More tree-huggy than he can deal with. But still, he humoured me, bless him, and the fire was lit ready for the Winter Solstice Burning.

So it is early evening, dark outside and we are all in our pyjamas and snuggled in front of the fire. We are warm and cosy. We are home, and we are safe and we are together.

We burn the homespun Yule Log and we each make a wish (yes, even J). It was the sweetest thing to see the Little People with eyes scrunched tight in concentration, formulating their secret wishes. It really melted my heart, such a special moment. I've no idea what they wished for, I would love to know.

And that's the tale of our first ever Winter Solstice celebration. Not quite as I had envisaged it, but as my Mum would say "All's well that ends well".

Yeah, all's well that ends well, I like that saying a lot.

xxx

Comments

[Rachel]

Reading this just over 10 years later and I’ve laughed out loud at J’s reaction, my own Mr just asked me “What?” as he’s engrossed in a book...”Oh, just a blog post I’m reading...”

Happy New Year Lucy xx

[Shannon]

Well, here I am 2 1/2 years late to this post. ha! I only discovered your blog a week or two ago and am reading every thing from the beginning. I'm also on Ravelry (wiltinrose) and currently working on a Ripple. You are very inspiring, Lucy! (and one of my fave shows is Last of the Summer Wine - filmed in Holmfirth, I think maybe not too terribly far from you?! - I'm in the USA, however. Bah. I love all of your countryside photos.) Sooo, we get a live tree every year and cut a big piece off the bottom...this become our Yule Log for the next solstice. If we are living in a home without a fireplace, we burn it in our metal fire pit in the yard...but that is our tradition and I wanted to share it with you. It is a very lovely thing to do and we all enjoy it. ~Shannon

[The Garden Bell - Kate]

OH, it's so clear to me know. I have lots of back reading to do. Now, I know what W.S. is. Glad to add this to our fun here. We have a Yankee Candle shop here in town. Most, of their winter scents are great..but some are just to fruitie for us.

Off to see more...

[Linda]

I've only recently discovered your blog and am enjoying it so much. A knitter for years, though I can crochet well enough for granny squares.... or at least I could! I'm inspired and going to start the bag and then maybe a ripple blanket. Thank you and all the very best for Christmas and the new Year.

[greedynan]

I highly recommend the Christmas Cookie flavour Yankee candle - so much so, I've bought the 'normous one to burn over the hols. If only it were edible too ...

[Shirl]

Yule Blessings, Lucy. I love your sun. Winter Solstice is my favourite celebration; because now the days start to get longer again.

Have a lovely Christmas too ... :0)

Shirl

[audrey claire wilson]

Hi Lucy, Lovely reading about your Winter Solstice. As you were celebrating your shortest day, here in Australia we were celebrating our longest! And, yes, I am ashamed to admit I didn't do anything for it..!

Anyway, I just wanted to wish you and your family a magical Christmas and exciting new year!! I really look forward to reading of more adventures at Attic24 in 2009! Take careX

[driftwood]

what a lovely day! traditions take time to develop, I think this one will become a real winner xx

[Karen]

Thank you for your honesty Lucy, at the sake of repeating myself (I just can't remember where I said it) it's good to know that life isn't perfect for others too. I often have these ideas in my head of doing things with the family that just don't happen but then it is often what we don't plan that is nice. Seasons Greetings.

[Manuela]

thank you for your post, all is really lovely and wonderful.
Bye
Manuela

[Gill]

What a nice idea and I love the way you presevered in spite of a lack of interest from your big and little people....one day they'll look back and appreciate all you do, and probably do the same for their own children..........wishing you a Merry Christmas, thank you so much for your wonderful blog which is one of my favourites.
Gill x

[Jo]

Lovely once again to follow your endeavours. You fought and stuck to your feelings about this day and I think that is fantastic!

You have taught me about Yule Logs! And I had forgotten that kind of coloured paper!

All's well that end's well. My Gran's favourite saying.... (sniff, thank you!!)

You never seize to inspire me, Lucy.

Merry Christmas from
Jo
x

[elizabeth of course]

it sounds marvelous. And my husband gives me those very same looks when I try to explain: what I'm up to now, and how it's significant, and for crying out loud, just play along for me, willya?
LMSO
How come the kids never want to play when we do, huh?

[Anne]

Happy Solstice Lucy! I've really been enjoying your blog and photos (so bright!). My husband is from Yorkshire, and curious where exactly you are. He describes the weather much as you do - grey and gloomy!

We have more snow here than we've had in years...

Cheers!

[vildkatten]

In Sweden we still use the word "yule", but modified a bit so nowadays it's "jul", and the 24th for example is "julafton", like yule evening. The logs are actually what started the christmas gift tradition. Back then people took a piece of wood, knocked on someones door, opened it and threw the wood inside and ran for it so no one would know who left it. Our word for christmas gift comes from the sound of the knocking on the door to deliver those logs. Ethymology can be so interesting. :-)

We had a nice winter solstice with unexpected visitors and we lit 30 candles and lay out some light chains and it was so cozy. :-) Not as organized since we just moved but still very nice.

[claire]

Oh I completely adored this post, mind you I adore them all. Have a lovely Christmas I for one can't wait to read about it/see it.

[Karen]

Hi Lucy, Your solstice celebrations looked lovely and the whole idea is to create your own celebration which is exactly what you did. I expect your little people are too excited about Christmas to think about anything else. My husband and sons tolerate my celebrating and enjoy the food and fire. Hope your little man is feeling better today.
Karenx

[Anne]

Lovely story Lucy - you are a marvelous writer - and remember "all's well that ends well" - I have said that so many times!!

[Josie-Mary]

Oh well you tried your best.... it comes to something when you can't get your children to join in!!!...poor you but it looks like you had a good day in the end. I love the candle .... I'm sure I've seen those somewhere but can't remember where.... I love Christmas smelly candles.
Your secerts safe with me...*wink,wink* !!! x

[shirley]

Have a happy christmas Lucy with your family.Ihave really enjoyed reading your blog x

[Julie]

Happy Winter Solstice!! Your post did make me chuckle - I know just what you mean about having a great plan, but facing a lack of enthusiasm from Little People and a large helping of scepticism from the Big Person! Bravo to you for keeping going (I probably would have thrown in the towel and had a tantrum of my own - I will have to try and follow your example and persevere in future)- clearly they were all glad in the end and the special wishes sound lovely.

[ginny]

Happy Solstice to you. I am pleased you managed to start your own celebration albeit with some reluctance from those around you. I found that introducing these ideas gradually helped and now the girls happily celebrate with me and understand why. You have now set the seed for your own family tradition which is great and i can tell you so had fun too.
x

[simone]

Good effort Lucy! I think I would have liked the smell of your Yankee candle. You really were determined to celebrate the winter solstice weren't you?!!! I think burning the yule log and making a wish was a lovely idea and at least they all came around in the end. I hope you come and visit my blog sometime. It misses you! Have a lovely Christmas. x

[jkj]

happy solstice. your children are blessed to have such a creative and interactive mom! i eagerly read your postings and relish your photos and adventures. have a WONDERFUL christmas!!!! jkj

[clementine]

That candle smells so good... we have those at home ... as i'm travelling i brought one with me so my hotal room will at least smell a little like home....
I hope you enjoy Christmas ... i just wanted to say how much i enjoy your blog... i read it all the time it gets me into the right frame of mind when i need some insperation x thank you