My outside world is clad in ermine, this morning...
Did the neighbors put lights on that big tree, in their back yard?
No.It's a reflection of my inside world.
Happy Winter Solstice! Happy Yule!~~~
Winter solstice! A time of transition in the annual war of light vs darkness, cold vs warmth, abundance vs shortage, life vs death! All people in our northern climes have tended to view this as the crucial time of year. A time to hold ceremonies designed to assist nature in rebounding from the path toward oblivion to one directed toward prosperity.
~~~
Indeed, there are more known rituals associated with the winter solstice than any other time of year. Prior to the Christian era a Roman solar cult had its major festival on the winter solstice. In 46 B.C. the solstice was on December 25 in the calendar Julius Caesar established in Rome. The date became so traditional that it was retained through calendar reforms, so that Dies Natalis Invicti, the Roman date of the Invincible Sun, remained December 25, now two to four days after the solstice. Later on, Christians also accepted this as the date to celebrate the birth of Jesus, when they recall the story of a brilliant star that lit the sky to become a symbol of life over death just as light always strengthens following the passage of the solstice.
"36 Hour Bugs" are going around here. The children bring them home from school, as a *Christmas gift* to the family. Mmmm, yes. ,-) Hope no "Bugs" are pestering you and yours!!! :-)
