Winter Solstice 2018

Yesterday we celebrated Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. Celebrating the Winter Solstice (and the summer one) isn't something I've always done, but during the past decade or so (since living in this house and sharing my thoughts from the Attic) I have become increasingly aware of the changing seasons and the way they subtly weave and flow through my days. Personally, I much prefer to think of the seasons according to the Astronomical calendar rather than the meteorological one, and so the passing of these four points in the year always makes me stop and take note. I think Winter Solstice is my most favourite of all, and even though this is the start of Winter (and I'm most definitely a Summer Spirit) I just adore the celebration of light and greenery and the magic and optimism it evokes.

Late yesterday afternoon in the last hour of daylight, I ventured out into the small woodland at the top of the park to gather in some greenery.

It's been raining on and off for most of the week and everything was dripping wet and very soggy and slippery under foot.

There's not a lot of greenery to be found in the winter woods but I was after some long vines of wild ivy which grow rampant all over the ground under the trees.

Long lengths of ivy make a great base for an evergreen wreath as the stems are very bendy and can easily be twisted and wrapped without needing to be secured with wire.

As well as the ivy, I gathered some evergreen stems from the allotment, and added in my best favourite greenery of all - eucalyptus. I have to buy the eucalyptus from the farm shop, but I love it very very much and to me it is the scent of the season, much more so than pine. It's my annual seasonal treat, and kind of makes up for the fact that we always have an artificial Christmas tree which generally just smells a little dusty. 

The wreath base I use is an inexpensive florists wire one (like this), and it's pretty easy to weave the stems in an out and around the wreath without really needing to do any tethering. 

I work fast as the light is fading and I'm out in the cold, damp back yard. Ahhh, I love love love eucalyptus, did you get that already??!! I'm snipping and weaving and twisting and poking, inhaling that fresh evergreen scent and thinking about Winter beginning and another year coming to a close. It's kind of serene and frantic all at once.

And then oh, gosh, my wreath is finished and well, it's erm...............well, a bit shaggy? A weeny bit unkempt looking and not especially magical, but there you have it...................

......................ta-dah! One rustic, evergreen Winter Solstice wreath.

I've just looked at the time stamps on my photos, and am kind of oddly proud to tell you that I made my wreath in 12 minutes flat. Ha!! Twelve minutes very well spent in my opinion.

I don't make my Solstice wreath to hang as I like to use it as a table decoration to surround my candle of choice. This year I went for a festive star candle with a Mulled Wine scent, and it's absolutely wonderful. It smells of orange and spice, of Christmas and warmth, and I can't stop sniffing it.

I managed to have all this in place by the time the Little People came home from school, which was something of an achievement. It was the last day of term yesterday so there was a fair bit of excitement in the air and our home felt cosy, happy and upbeat.

The other thing I like to do to celebrate Winter Solstice is to make a Yule Log for the fire, but this year we didn't have any proper logs to hand. We're burning smokeless coal and those eco friendly heat log thingies , so I decided to improvise and create some Yule Pine Cones instead. I collect pine cones from the pavement every summer  as they fall from the extremely tall pine trees which sit at the end of our street. Wrapped in ivy and eucalyptus, they make perfect little handfuls to throw on the fire for a solstice wish.

J wasn't interested in being Solstice-ish (which was rather lucky as I only made three cones), but Little B and Little Lady were happy to join me. I wished hard for 2019 to be brim full of health and happiness, and although I would dearly love to know what the Little Peeps wished for, they refused to tell. Top Secret Wishes, obviously. We rounded off the evening with hot chocolate and a film, and all was blissfully peaceful.

I was thinking about the very first Winter Solstice we celebrated here in 2008, and how I've managed to create this annual seasonal tradition for my family. Way back then, Little Lady was 4 and the Teen was 6 and Little B wasn't even a faint notion. It really makes me happy to think that the Little Peeps have these memories embedded in their childhoods, a gentle antidote to all the technology and a reminder to stop and reflect and be grateful for the year that has passed. And of course, extra precious minutes of daylight every day now, gosh, that thought alone makes me so happy!!

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Comments

[Tamal Ghosh]

Thanks for sharing this author
Keep it up

[Heidi]

I am going to incorporate solstice and equinox celebrations into my life next year! I feel like I need that little bit of extra happiness (and quiet time/reverence) in my life. I love the idea of Yule wish pine cones!

My sister and I visited Guatemala for two weeks this past spring and got to see eucalyptus trees in their natural environment. The scent and color are wonderful!

[Kathryn Ashe]

Here in the Inland Northwest Washington, our sunset was at 3:55 pm on the winter solstice. Now, just one week later, our sunset is 4:16 pm. Hurrah, summer will be here before we know it!!!

[Elizabeth Wittig]

Mum left us on the Solstice in 2000 so not my best day. Like to think the dark days are over and we are moving into the light.

[Green Girl Gardener]

Oh Lucy, I love your wreath. I like to think of myself as reasonably creative and imaginative, but yet I never seem to have lovely ideas pop into my head like you do. I hope you had a marvellous Christmas with your family. Not long to go till the CAL starts *excited, grinning face*.

[Denise Hall]

December 22nd is my birthday and always the shortest day of the year. I treasure being born on this day - never seems to bother me! I guess I feel special! Happy New Year Lucy and family and everyone else who is reading this .

[Namari]

A lovely post. Oh! How I wish to live where you do! Do enjoy your extra moments of sun from now on!

[Autumn]

I love the look of the wreath with the candle and fairy lights all lit up. I hope you had a happy Christmas!

[Abi]

Merry Christmas. Love Abi x

[Elise]

What a beautiful tradition! I absolutely love the rustic look! Happy New Year, Lucy and family!

[Bettina]

I love the "rustic" look of your wreath. Thanks for all you're lovely inspiration throughout the year Lucy.

[Luisa]

Hello, gostaria de informá-la que alguém usa as suas imagens para uso próprio no Pinterest e num blog.Consulte este link e tome medidas http://petelki.com.ua/2210-veselaya-podushka-iz-ostatkov-pryazhi.html
Adoro os seus trabalhos e deve-se sempre, no meu ver a criadora das ideias e sitar sempre a fonte
Um abraço
Luisa Sousa
(from Portugal)

[Linne]

I, too, love your wreath, Lucy. It certainly looks 'magical' to me!! Especially with the mini lights and the star candle lit in the centre. I tend to like the more 'wild' things rather than the controlled ones.

You are already well into Boxing Day over there and we are just past midnight on Christmas Day, so I guess technically it's Boxing Day here, too.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family. Ours was quiet, but good.

I wish you all the best in the coming year. Lots of health, happiness and all that. And creativity!!

Love and Light to you ~ Linne

[Angela- Southern USA]

Love the wreath!!! ***MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!***

[Nadine G]

Félicitations pour votre couronne si naturelle. Que de chemin parcouru depuis MARS 2008, je vous admire !- Passez de belles fêtes de fin d'année en famille ! Je vous embrasse.

[Carol]

Love your solstice pictures and have a happy Christmas and I am looking forward to your new projects in 2019. You new projects cheer me up every time. xx

[Meg]

Your wreath is very beautiful! The longest day of the year here in Australia passed me by completely! May you enjoy your extra minutes of sunshine each day now. Happy Xmas to you! Meg:)

[Paloma]

Amazing pictures!!!! I wish you a Merry Christmas.

[Winwick Mum]

This was the first year that we've celebrated the Solstice and it felt very special, quite magical in a way that's different to Christmas. I think it's going to be permanent inclusion to our family traditions! xx

[marie keller]

A group of women and I get together 4 times a year to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Music, food, singing and laughter. At midnight we gather in a circle, hold hands and dance to Van Morrisons Moondance. (You only feel awkward the first time.) I'm like you in that I look forward to the Summer Solstice the most. The heat and sunshine really make me happy.

[Susan]

Your wreath is lovely and I like the thought of the pine cone wish. Have a safe, happy and cosy festive season with your family. xx Susan

[CJ]

Sounds like a wonderful afternoon, and I love the wreath. I must explore the wonders of eucalyptus. The winter and summer solstices are lovely aren't they, I always like to stop and appreciate the light. CJ xx

[Hanne Abrahamsen]

Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing your beautiful wreath!

[Marlene Randall]

Your wreath is breathtakingly beautiful. I've been wanting to add a solstice celebration to our family traditions, it feeling more relevant to me than some other long held traditions.

[Mary W]

Your wreath is just wonderful - love how the lights around the outside make a second circle with the light from the star inside. I ADORE your Yule Pine Cones! What a marvelous gift to give someone with a fireplace. Not only would they work well, they would certainly be pretty to look at lined up along the table center or along the window sill. These I must copy! So enjoy your blog - thank you again for sharing so much.