Finding the light…
Lighter days are ahead. It’s a turning point in the year.
The winter solstice has been celebrated in the UK for thousands of years. It is associated with Yule, a Scandinavian pagan celebration of the sun's rebirth, and Saturnalia, a week-long Roman festival that celebrates Saturn, the god of agriculture, time, and good fortune.
Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices. On the winter solstice, the sun sets to the southwest of the stone circle. Yesterday morning (December 21st) thousands of people gathered to mark the moment, you too can watch here .
This is the solstice, the still point
of the sun, its cusp and midnight,
the year’s threshold
and unlocking, where the past
lets go of and becomes the future;
the place of caught breath, the door
of a vanished house left ajar.
Mary Oliver
The blending of ancient solstice celebrations with Christian traditions has created the rich tapestry of modern Christmas, a season that continues to celebrate light, community, and joy during the darkest time of the year.
Yet the modern day Christmas and run up to it can feel so pressured and busy, a blur of lists, late night shopping, untangling the lights that we swear we put away so neatly (arghh why does that always happen to me) wrapping, expectations and tradition. The phrase ‘burning the candle at both ends’ seems particularly apt for this time of year.
But what if were to ask something different of ourselves this winter? Even if for just a few moments. Not always easy I know, but as the festive holiday approaches it might just provide the opportunity to find some space and light of your own, however brief.
Winter can be a time for quiet reflection and planning. Wrap up, take a stroll outdoors and take time to notice the bare winter trees, the low setting sun, the beautiful quality of the light. There is something so gentle and reflective about it at this time of year.
A perfect time to ask:
How are you taking care of yourself?
Who or what is helping you rest and recharge?
What one action might have the biggest impact on your wellbeing right now?
“THE KEEPERS OF CHRISTMAS
We are the keepers of Christmas. The fairy light hangers, the candle lighters,
the carol singers, the wrap-all-nighters. The tradition preservers and new memory makers,
the storytellers, the mince pie bakers.
We are the list creators, the cracker crafters.
We have a plan for the build up, a plan for the afters.
We sense the season on the winter breeze.
We make home cosy ahead of the freeze.
We take time to pause and take it all in.
The turn of the year is settling in.
The shadows of loss, the sparkles of light.
Our love is a lantern on every dark night.
We are the keepers of Christmas”
