It was our Winter Solstice celebration last night…so we are very weary and happy today. Too tired to type much or prepare lots of photos, so until tomorrow, here are some photos of the Brambly Hedge folk celebrating their Winter Solstice. Ours was very similar in feeling, tho’ less furry…
And here, also, are the two readings my deario and I always read around the glowing bonfire. The first is my husband’s reading and the second is mine.
“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!”
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!”
-Susan Cooper
“Brightener of Darkness, hail!
Keeper of Clearness, Opener of the Depths.
Gifts of plenty are arising,
Winter wonders, white snows’ fall.
Joyful be the heart within us,
Open wide the guesting door,
Wisdom waken in abundance,
Warm our beings to the core.”
-Caitlin Matthews
Deb December 23, 2011 at 1:42 am
What a lovely tradition & wonderful readings.
Happy Winter Solstice Lesley ♥
Salina December 23, 2011 at 1:53 am
Sounds like you had a delightful and fulfilling time.:)
Lisa December 23, 2011 at 2:19 am
Love these reading! The Brambly Hedge pictures are delightful and just how I’d imagine spending the solstice in celebration too!
Laurie December 23, 2011 at 3:15 am
Beautiful words, and such sweet photos. Becky’s Christmas was a delightful read. So glad you shared it!
sarah elwell December 23, 2011 at 3:26 am
how lovely that you celebrate the winter solstice. I adore Brambly Hedge, it is such a delight to find these pictures here. Blessings, blessings to you.
Dori December 23, 2011 at 4:26 am
I waved to you across the miles just about the time you and Doug read your verses by the bonfire. Happy Winter Solstice. Light and love to you!
Bonnie December 23, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Lovely. Miss Oreo , our cat, would love to live in those illustrations! ( smiling)
Barb December 23, 2011 at 6:36 pm
I have a jigsaw puzzle of a Brambly Hedge winter kitchen that I was planning on doing this winter. I haven’t done a puzzle in years but I am going to try and slow down in 2012 by starting the year sitting down and puzzling over the many pieces, mumbling that surely there are parts missing! Thanks for sharing her lovely artwork.