Happy Winter Solstice

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Chanukkah, and New Year!

Our parlour

Our side view from parlour

                                                Alex & Tony

Boys...Cylos, Craig, Devlon & Alex

Yule  is celebrated on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, a time when the weather is at it's coldest and darkest, and the Sun's rebirth is from this day forth.  The Sun's power is no longer in decline, but begins to return towards it's zenith at the Summer Solstice.  The Sun gains in power, staying above the horizon longer and warming the planet more each day.  It is the rebirth of Divine light that will bring new hope, warmth, and light to the Earth’s peoples. Yule is a time of celebration, when we begin to see the days growing longer again and darkness’ hardships lessening.  It has been celebrated in this way for millennia and has been adopted by many other religious faiths. Yuletide lasts from December 20th through December 31st. It begins on "Mother Night" and ends twelve days later, on "Yule Night", hence the "Twelve Days of Christmas" tradition.  Winter was a time of death and stagnation in the eyes of early humans.  The Earth was barren and unproductive, shelter was drafty, disease was common, and food was scarce.  Little wonder they did all in their power to assure the Sun’s return each year.  During the festivals of the waning year, fire became a form of sympathetic magick to entice the Sun back to the Earth.  Bonfires were lit; Flaming wheels rolled down hillsides; Burning candles were placed in windows.  Candles were later placed in the boughs of evergreen trees, later evolving into lights on our holiday trees.

Although it falls during the darkest time of year, Yuletide is sacred and a time of peace.  Frith is held between everyone, and all are focused on celebration, family, feasting, honouring the Ancestors, making oaths, and peace.

 Frith

 Frith is an Anglo-Saxon term describing the state of peace and the nature of social relationships conducive to making and maintaining peace.  Peace is not always easy to create and expand upon but it is in us all. 

If you won’t contribute to peace then who will?