Yuletide Greetings, Friends!

According to National Geographic, The winter solstice marks the exact moment when half of Earth is tilted the farthest away from the sun. It usually happens on December 21 or 22, at the exact same second around the world. This year, that exact moment was 3:21 this morning, so Today is the Winter Solstice, celebrated by Humans since the dawn of time at such Sacred Spots as Newgrange, Stonehenge, and the Nasca Lines, where folks would gather to welcome back the sun.

How did the Ancients know it was the solstice? I don’t know, but I think it had to do with shadows. If you stand outside in the sun (hopefully it’s shining where you are) at noon today and look at your shadow, it will be the Longest Shadow you cast the entire year. I’m going to check that out today.

One of the most enduring Winter Celebrations is Yule, begun in Scandinavian countries but soon co-opted by the Brits and made familiar to us in their madrigal “Christmas” songs. To Welcome the Light, there was feasting and singing, and a Yule Log — the bigger the better – was lit outside, with the festivities lasting for several days.

We still write our wishes on a log and send them up in the smoke of our fireplace, and of course we’re feasting and singing. But for me, this is the New Year, the Beginning of a new chapter, and a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next.

I’ll also be baking today! Brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and snickerdoodles are the menu!

Peace