First frost, crisp mornings, dogs and children romping through piles of leaves, good books read during cozy evenings, birds flocking to suet cakes, leisure time with friends, trees transformed in oranges, reds, and yellows – a renewing time of the year heralding the holidays. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and, in some years, Ramadan. For the record, my favorite among the busy, glitter filled weeks is Winter Solstice.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Thanksgiving with its gathering of family and friends over turkey and potluck dishes in spice scented kitchens, is a priceless day of relaxation before the frenetic round of gifts and parties and glitz. Yeah, I like turkey day.
But it is the often overlooked, shortest day of the year, Winter Solstice, that’s my personal favorite. Ebbing daylight, plants folding into rest, and long reflective evenings pivot on this astronomical event. In northern climates, solstice spawned an eating and drinking orgy for pagans facing starvation from January thru April. In more temperate zones, post summer harvest completion of beer and wine fermentation signaled drinking fests. Cyclic calendars and ideas of birth-rebirth sprang from this shortest day. Do you begin to see my point? Or should I say turning-point. . . ?
Here’s wishing you Merry Solstice. And, for good measure, Happy Holidays.
Nancy Hartney 
I look forward to the solstice too. It’s nice to turn that corner and head into longer daylight. It renews my spirit and gives me hope for brighter days ahead.
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Yeah, its that turn toward longer days, toward spring that is renewing. Nancy
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Marvelous images, remembered smells, time for spcial thoughts, and moments to read a delicious book. I also have a special feeling about the Winter Solstice. The next day begins a wee more sunlight than the day before. Light returns from winter darkness.
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Yes, the holidays (all of them) are sensory rich. Nancy
On Mon, Dec 3, 2012 at 8:45 AM, Nancy Hartney
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Beautiful writing, Nancy, with gorgeous images. I’m raising a glass to the Winter Solstice, too!
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I love when we turn that corner too and long night slowly turn into longer days. A sign for me that spring is not too far away (even though it may still feel like it) 🙂
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Thanks, Alice. Nice to have a fellow soul on this journey into spring.
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We just had my favourite (autumn), now onto my second favourite – spring 🙂 Wish we could hibernate for real in winter… I do a pretty good impression though 😉
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God, but I love how you write! I love the day after winter solstice. The end of a dark night, a turning toward the light.
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