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Holidays:  Winter Solstice Ideas  |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 28 2010 : 5:25:24 PM
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I've been thinking that it would be nice to celebrate or observe the winter solstice. Does anyone out there do anything in particular to mark the shortest day of the year?
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2010 : 5:38:02 PM
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I once attended a winter solstice celebration where a threshold was made from a branch lying on the ground and an arch made of branches was placed above it. As each person stood before the threshold, they stated their hopes for the new year, then crossed over the threshold. You can also light a candle to represent the light, and others light their candles from the main candle. Hope this helps.
Cindy
"There is more to life than increasing its speed". Mahatma Gandhi
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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sue5901
True Blue Farmgirl
122 Posts
Sue
Wellingborough
United Kingdom
122 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2010 : 12:50:55 PM
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I have celebrated the soltices many times - For the winter one we watch the sunset and then have a special meal, always by candlelight and if the weather permits have a bonfire. Then get up in the morning and have breakfast by candlelight and watch the sunrise after the longest night.
It kinda become a festival of light - any light except electric - we would not turn the electric lights on at all, this made it really special.
Funny but we celebrate the longest night rather than the shortest day and in the summer celebrate the longest day not the shortest night - no idea why!
There is no religious or spiritual context to our celebrations at all - simply the marking of the natural cycles of the earth. We don't do it every year just when the mood takes us.
Dance like nobody's watching! |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2010 : 6:50:49 PM
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In Iran (my husband is originally from Tehran) they have a winter feast to celebrate the solstice. It is called Sahb-e yalida, which means rebirth of the sun. It was considered a battle between dark and light, light triumphing in the end.
Bonfires are lit outside while families gather inside for a night-long vigil. A low square table is covered with a thick cloth & a brazier with hot coals is placed under the table. The oldest family members saved fruit & vegetables for everyone to enjoy.
The oldest member of the family says prayers, thanks God for the previous year's crops & prays for the prosperity of next year's harvest. Then with a sharp knife, thick yogurt, melon & watermelon are cut & given to the family. The cutting symbolizes the removal of sickness & pain for the family.
There are many fruits, nuts, and main dishes that are eaten that have different symbolic meanings too. Poetry is recited & music played. Stories and jokes are told as well. People talk until the sun, triumphantly returns in the morning.
We celebrate here on a more modest scale of dinner & music. I hope everyone has a triumphant solstice too!
Sahar (Persian for Dawn) in IL |
Edited by - ddmashayekhi on Nov 29 2010 6:51:53 PM |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 01:48:10 AM
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Wow!
I have never heard of such wonderful celebrations. the forum is so educational and inspiring. Dawn, thanks for sharing.
Marianne |
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Prairie Gypsy
True Blue Farmgirl
823 Posts
Tammy
Wolford
North Dakota
USA
823 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 05:56:44 AM
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When I worked with a group we use to do a spiral made with evergreen boughs. We'd walk it and place candles in mason type jars along the spiral and let them burn out. The candles we would charge and bless during the ritual before we'd do the spiral. As we walked the spiral we would meditate/pray on those things that had happened during the past year and then as we followed the spiral back out we would meditate/pray on those things we wished to draw to us for the coming year.
Farmgirl Sister # 2363
http://twilightburrough.blogspot.com/
Warren, MI
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 1:31:23 PM
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Tammy that sounds like a lot of fun.
Thanks Marianne. The Persians have so many celebrations through the year that I have trouble keeping up. I enjoy the winter and summer solstice ones because they are only one night! The Persian New Year's celebration (first day of spring) is 13 days long and takes a lot of work.
Dawn in IL |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2010 : 5:19:19 PM
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Thanks for all of the ideas! I'm so excited to plan something now!
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
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Holidays: Winter Solstice Ideas |
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Winter Solstice Ideas
