That is just what we've been trying to figure out the past few years. At the farm we started to feel very pagan, we were outside most of the time, the moon shone into our bedroom window at night, we were connected with the seasons since we were growing for a living- constantly witnessing the cycles of life with all of the plants and animals and the cycles of the seasons. It was only natural for us to feel the darkness of the winter solstice. We were suddenly inside so many hours and we waited for the light to come so we could get out and get a little work done. It felt good to have the forced rest that the long nights gave to us, we wanted to fill our bellies and hibernate!
I really miss that in the city. This month has been the busiest of my year! I'm very thankful for my customers and sales, but wow, I am tired! Peter is spent from finals and papers, and we're both trying to get all of our holiday prepping completed...busy busy busy! So, today, the shortest day of the year, we are going to try to feel the darkness and celebrate the light that will soon lengthen our days.
But how!?!
That has been the question but it really feels important now that FGH is around. We're trying to formalize the "feeling" we get this time of year in regards to the season so it can become an official tradition. Presents seem to be in order, at least a couple, and one that is sitting under our lighted tree right now is a shiny red sled that will be used for our solstice outing. Indeed, being outdoors needs to be in the equation. And pancakes. They are in the oven waiting for the rest of the family to wake up. Nothing says connectedness with the winter like banana pancakes...hmmmmm, they're good anyway.
Tonight we are going to have a little candlelight and a tasty dinner. Our menu was starting to sound like Christmas Eve, potato sausage and the like, so we switched it to chicken tika masala, spicy sweet potatoes and coconut rice. It isn't CHRISTMAS yet after all.
Well, I hear that boy stirring... I'm contemplating keeping the lights off or at least dimmed today so we notice how short the day really is.
1 comment:
Sounds like you have good traditions starting. We spent the solstice in the Magic Kingdom... quite a celebration! I'm missing all of you this Christmas season and I hope to see you all sometime soon. Enjoy the days without school. As you know, they are rare!
Post a Comment