Happy Solstice

We just came home from a lovely solstice get together at our friends M&L's home.  They hosted a wonderful party with dinner, candles, goodies, and tradition to celebrate the shortest day of light in the year, or rather the gradual return of day light after today.  

Dinner was yummy Quiche, salad, and butternut squash soup.  Treats included sweet bread, cake, and chocolate - including chocolate covered figs... devine.

Part of the tradition is writing down things you want to leave behind in the year - or things you wish for in the coming year and then set them aflame in the fire so that the smoke sends them up to the power(s) that be.  Our hosts set out origami paper squares, pens, and pinecones for us to prep our thoughts prepare to burn.  It was really interesting how much my thoughts and wishes had changed in the past year - and how different peoples pinecones looked when prepped.  Mine is the one on the left, my friend D's is on the right.  

The one above is Chris's.  Once everyone was ready we set them all in the fire and watched them burst into flames.

It was so neat to take a few minutes to sit and really reflect and put thought into what I wanted to let go and leave behind, and what I hoped would come in the next year.  Happy holidays everyone.  Enjoy the extra light!

Solstice

Happy Solstice everyone! On Sunday our friends L&M invited us over to their house for a Solstice party. We had a lovely dinner, wine, and lots of good music, talk, and laughter. L and her family have a tradition of writing wishes and goals for the coming year, or notes of thanks on pieces of paper and tucking them into the Yule Log, then burning the Log in the fire.

Then your thanks, goals, and wishes are heard, and will come to fruition. We had a warning to be sure about what we were wishing for, and all of us filled out a few pieces of origami paper and tucked them into the Log.

Then L&M placed the Log on the fire and we all sat and watched it burn. Presents and more wine followed. Stories were told. Games were played. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the arrival of lengthening daylight; the promise of sun, spring, and hopefully, a few of those wishes.