Another year, another winter solstice. That solstice, of course, marks the longest night of the year where we live. Day follows night whether we will it or not; what we can do is hope for a better tomorrow and strive to make it so.
A poem for today by Susan Cooper (the same person who wrote the The Dark is Rising books):
Shortest Day
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 so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!
From Marlene and me and Hecate, George, Luna, and Tuna, may you have peace and plenty this Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Solstice – or simply as easy a time of it as possible if you are working today.
Merry Christmas to you and you loved ones, Marlene! Hope the day is filled with love and laughter.. and of course, some delicious food!
Happy Holidays to you and yours, Marlene. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy the time as 2025 winds down.