Winter Solstice 2020

Today marks a turning point in the year as we celebrate the passing of the shortest day. As you may have guessed by now, this is one of my absolute favourite days of the whole year, and I woke up this morning feeling very happy and more than a little emotional. Winter Solstice is traditionally a day for rest and quiet reflection, for staying close to hearth and home and counting your blessings. It's a time to welcome in the winter months as we prepare to rest our bodies, nurture our souls, and make gentle plans for the year ahead. I like to think about these kinds of things as I go about my solstice day, and to remind myself (at frequent intervals) that every day from now on will be a little bit longer and a little bit lighter than the day before. Thank goodness, oh ThAnK GOODnesS!!!!! Bring. Me. The. LIGHT!!!!!

Hmmm......as you can see from the above photo, the weather today in Atticland was truly dire. It's been cold, grey and wet all day, but honestly I didn't mind too much. A day of hearth and home, remember? J and I walked into town this morning to run some errands and it was quiet on the streets with not very many people out at all.

We stopped off for a coffee on our way home, enjoying the warmth and comforting familiarity. I know we are very fortunate to still be able to go and enjoy a drink out here as our area isn't in a severe lockdown. Although we still have restrictions (we can't socialise indoors), for me and J it means that our little café jaunts are still happening and I'm so, so grateful for the normality of it.

On the way home from the shops I took a very quick little detour along the muddy footpath which connects the canal to the park. I was on a speedy foraging mission to gather in some ivy stems, and I knew there was a vast amount growing rampant along that pathway so I didn't feel too bad about snaffling a little bit into my bag.

I always buy a special candle for Winter Solstice - this year I went for a very seasonal red Cranberry and Vanilla with the most delicious scent to it. 

When I got home I set about performing my usual Winter Solstice celebrations. It was a simple, low key affair which I enjoyed very much, pottering about by myself while the rest of the family were scattered elsewhere in the house doing their own thing. I took the foraged ivy and some eucalyptus I already had and twisted it around a simple wire wreath. There see, I told you it was simple, it took me less than ten minutes to create but oh, it was so pleasing to do! I adore the scent of eucalyptus, it really is one of my favourite seasonal smells I think. 

I lit my candle at around 3pm when the daylight was already fading....

....and I sat quietly with a milky coffee in hand and the kitty for company, feeling very content with my lot. One of my dear friends sent a message into our WhatsApp group this morning (it's the group for my real life yarny tribe who I chat with pretty much every day). Her words were so charming and heartfelt that I thought I would steal them quote her on this special day of celebration.

She said "it is a morning of unremitting murk....I am going to light every candle and turn on all the Christmas lights to shine a light in the darkness. The days get longer and we can hope for light in all parts of our lives from tomorrow....happy Solstice".

Isn't that just a lovely thing? The simple act of lighting a candle to shine brightness out into the world and wish for happier days to come. Yes. Yes yes yes. Count me in! Light ALL the candles!!!!

I sat for ages in front of our fire this afternoon, watching the daylight fade and darkness slowly creep in. Fairy lights, candle light, firelight and lots of hopeful wishes for a brighter tomorrow.

 Happy Solstice to you all, sending all my love and light out into the dark, I hope it finds you....

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Comments

[Charlotte]

Merry Christmas! Enjoy the best present that you have—-Family!

[Ginette Wheeler]

I just started following your blog and I must say it's just lovely! I found you through Teresa Kansers blog when I noticed her adorable spring garland and had to go off on a search for the same and thus found you! Your blog is so delightful and your creations are truly inspirational, I look forward to reading you more through out the year. A very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

[Georgie]

Merry Christmas Lucy to you and your family, ( including Tilly ). Thank you for all your blog posts in 2020, I haven’t read them all yet but have gone back to 2008 because I enjoy your posts so much. Thank you for all the time & effort you put in and for sharing so much. Your blog posts help me enormously, and for that I am so so grateful. And yes, light ALL the candles. xx

[Tonia]

This year’s solstice felt really special for me and I did the same thing: ALL the candles! Have a wonderful Christmas Lucy, your posts really do bring cheer.

[Julia]

I'm late, but I'm happy to read that you had a beautiful Solstice day!! I was REALLY looking forward to this date this year, as well - the darkness is a bit much, everything considered.

[Holly]

Yes your light has reached clear across the pond to me in Oregon. I love sharing in your attic land. Love and blessings to you Lucy. ❄️💙🥰❄️

[Charlotte Pountney]

Yes, shine a light in the darkness...be a light shining in the darkness!

[Tineke]

Happy solstice, Lucy. The light returns make me so happy. I hope the winter will bring us light, cold, crisp days.

[Wendy]

Love and light Lucy from Summer Solstice side of the world

[kate bates]

Thanks Lucy. Love to you too xx

[Linda]

What a lovely post. We all have been looking for the light in so many ways this year. And now comes the Christmas Star, the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, the star of the Wise Men, for the first time in 800 years. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you can see this event, as it comes again for all to see, to bring light and hope for the New Year before us.

[Sharon Lee]

My favourite poem for this day:

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us—listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome, Yule!

[Megan]

such a wonderful post :)

[Etta H]

Love the solstice - we’re the people walking in darkness in Co Down! But looking forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus, the light of the world. Candles change the pace of a room don’t they! I love your wreath - bet it smells great. Our advent candles mark the weeks leading up to Christmas. Brighter days ahead.

[Nora Mcgrann]

Gorgeous post Lucy

Looking forward to brighter days ahead, in every way..
🎄🎅🎄💕

[CJ]

What a lovely post. I really like the short winter days and that magical time when the sun is setting - the last hour of daylight. I love seeing all the lights go on, and the birds settling down for the night and the countryside becoming still and quiet. I'm growing some eucalyptus at the moment, it's doing surprisingly well, hopefully I can cut some for the house soon. CJ xx

[Jo]

I've so been enjoying your new posts and loved this one.

My birthday is the 21st Dec so I always feel like my life is measured by the summer and winter solstices. Every year goes up to June and down to Dec and cycles around again. It's very neat which appeals to me :-)

Thank you for writing.

(I've also splurged on the Katie's Kep yarn pack after you linked to it - perfect timing as I was having a weird craving to knit finicky colour work after feeling totally uninspired for months!)

[Catherine Buckley]

Thank you, thank you for this lovely post.

I sat at the allotment in the gloaming and thin drizzle with struggling candles, mulled wine and 2 friends! It's such an important day, things WILL get lighter, whatever else is going on in the world.

x Kate

[Liz]

Merry Christmas to you and your family Lucy and thank you for the light you have already shone into our lives this year with your wonderful story telling and photographs. 💕

[Jacqui]

Beautiful

[Line]

Yes, from now on the days will be growing longer and longer in a very subtle way at first just as hope for better days.

[Suzan]

Your little ritual is important to you and I am glad that yo are content to happily get on and do what pleases you.

I am another Aussie who blesses the air con. The days have been grey here too and I am finding it beyond difficult to rustle up a happy feeling for Christmas. But I will plod along and hopefully get there.

My yarn is waiting and there is much to finish. Last time I did a CAL I had hand surgery in the first week. This time will be easier for sure.

[Camcas]

Happy Solstice- summer here in Australia-a beautiful warm sunny day for me eating stone fruits - bring on Christmas!

[Sandra Benevides]

Acabei de ouvir na tv as novidades sobre a pandemia na Inglaterra. Sempre visito seu blog e lembrei de conferir se estava tudo bem . Graças a Deus que vocês vivem nesse pedaço de paraíso. Hoje começa o verão no Brasil. Em vez de lareira teremos um Natal com ar condicionado. Não acendemos velas mas enfeitamis as fachadas das casas com luzes. Que seu Natal seja de muita, muita luz! Um abraço e Feliz Natal.
Sandra. Niterói. Rio de Janeiro. Brasil

[Teresa Kasner]

Dear Lucy.. your post was happy and uplifting and brought joy to me here in Oregon, USA. We had a lovely day, too. Dayle broiled filet mignon, I made baked potatoes with a garlicky herb sour cream and may topping and we had fresh asparagus with it. Now silly Christmas movies on TV. Life is good. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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