As Christmas is such a stressful nightmare of arguments about which in-laws to spend it with and long-distance driving between opposite corners of the country to accommodate both sets of parents and relations, we always celebrate winter solstice as the calm before the storm. My wife, the kids and I start with stacks of blueberry pancakes and end with a big roast dinner (prepared together as a family - who says too many cooks spoil a broth? Good thing we're not having a broth, I suppose
) and then blobbing out around a small bonfire with mulled drinks (age appropriate
).
In the middle there is a present each, always light based. This year I have made LED colour-change lamps for the kids to match their current obsessions: my daughter's has all six of the Aperture Science logos (from Portal) cut out for the light to shine through and my son's has assorted Digicrests (from Digimon). My wife gets a kaleidoscope as always - after 30 years she now has a large and rather beautiful collection. Hopefully next year I'll be able to make a mechanical one...
It's a very enjoyable tradition that I feel keeps hold of some of the best aspects of traditional yule family celebrations in an otherwise hectic and consumerised Xmas.
Happy Solstice one and all
That sound like a fine way to celebrate, and a lovely day for family time before the mad dash from pillar to post that Christmas can be.
I would like to be spending it watching the solstice sunrise at Newgrange, but as that is not going to happen this year I will spend it not doing an awful lot, as I have a foot full of screws and surgical wire that I acquired last week causing some considerable limitations to mobility and activity.
The day after will be getting sutures removed, and the day after that is my birthday. Have no idea what is happening for Christmas!
I wish you a speedy recovery!
I'll celebrate by sleeping one of the two longest nights of the year
A mini-hibernation?
Yours,
Miranda.
