to light
December 20th, 2007 at 3:56 pm, usually dark on rainy days.
I was awake and wandering in the wee hours yesterday morning and noticed an almost full moon, the cold moon, lighting up the outdoors and streaming in through the unshaded windows on the west side. Stars sparkled. Frost sparkled. All looked magical after another long spell of dark dreary rainy nights, and days. The day came and was mostly clear and sunny, uplifting spirits, and inviting us out for a walk. A good thing, for the rains are back today and it promises to be a rainy green Christmas again.
December 20th, 2007 at 5:12 pm. The mountain tops look like they are on fire, while below we are in darkness. A superb solstice sign.
Tonight or very early tomorrow, here on the west coast of North America, it's the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Now we can look forward to lengthening days, a slow easing of the winter darkness. Several communities in Vancouver celebrate with a annual winter solstice lantern festival, a nod to the ancient pagan tradition of Yule, Yulefest, Jul, Jól, Joulu and other namings.
If you are in a reasonable time zone, you can even watch the webcast of the solstice sunrise at Newgrange in Ireland! I tried last night, but could not get connected. Maybe I'll have better luck tonight if I'm up late enough.
I raise a glass of glögg to all of you, dear readers, as we look forward to light. Happy solstice!
And a look back in the archives: 2004, 2005, and 2006
Marja-Leena | 21/12/2007 | 8 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Culture, Home
I love your tree! Those delicate twigs, and that all your decorations seem to be of that wondrous deep red. Beautiful.
The lit mountains look beautiful too. Ironic that man's light is strung there as a dark insistent mark. Isn't it just glorious when the days inch themselves longer!
To light! and your beautiful photos and musings, Marja-Leena.
I love the word glog - sorry no umlaut. If I had some, assuming I knew what it was, I would reciprocate. As it is it will heave to be Champagne. Please enlighten us as to its nature.
Olga, thank you! It's our second and simpler tree, a living Norfolk Island pine that is starting to outgrow it's home. Yes, I thought the same about that ugly power line, but nature certainly surpasses anything man can make. We've made it this far with the darkness, now it only gets better!
Amy, thanks for the lovely words and for dropping by.
Joe, glögg or glog or gluhwein is hot mulled wine. If you click on the word, there's a recipe for you to try! Thanks for the champagne toast!
Glorious photos! Hope your holidays are very special!!
Joan, thank you and the same to you!
"the rains are back today and it promises to be a rainy green Christmas again."
Here too. Bleh!
Happy Solstice anyway!
You have rain on top of all your lovely snow?! Bleh indeed. Thanks for the solstice wishes, Dave.