by epiphany
moss and ivy
lichen and ferns
english daisies
winter blooming rhododendron
grey drizzly day
where is snow white winter
on this twelfth day of Christmas?
a few past Epiphany posts:
Twelfth Day 2006
Twelfth night 2008
epiphany deluge 2009
January 6, 2013 in Canada and BC, Culture by Marja-Leena
Now you’ve gone and made me nostalgic for PNW winters. I thought I was over it. I miss holly, camellias, the scent of winter daphne, and the forsythia that blooms in February. So do the snowdrops, crocus and all the varieties of daffodils. We’ll never see most of that here and none at all until late march.
Meanwhile in Ireland it’s the holiday of Nollaig na mBan – or the Women’s Little Christmas. I have a friend who lives in Cork who’s carried me along in spirit with her sisters, aunties and girlfriends to the local pub.
Marja-Leena!
It really looks strange, that scene of yours, compared to our *real* winter. It is bumping on -0 C now, and it is starting to cool down: roads are on ice, long holidays and no sanding trucks been around.
I don’t have words for all your flowers over there.
We took the little Christmas elf, joulutonttu, of and put her up until next Christmas.
Deep in thoughts, wondering, stopping to write, read a bit, and start again the round. Very good time.
Susan, you know how I love snow for Christmas? We’re at opposing desires and nostalgia while living at the opposite ends of Canada.
I didn’t know about that Irish holiday – sounds wonderful. Those large families were like those of both my grandmothers but I don’t know if they ever got a day off. Pubs were not part of their culture either. Do you have any Irish roots, Susan?
Marjatta, yes, I can imagine it’s strange to you, living in northern Finland. We do get frosty nights when it’s clear and even colder snowy winters some years like in 2008. Do you remember your winters in Portland? They might have been similar to here though it’s not right by the sea like Vancouver is.
I was lazy today, trying not to catch a cold from my husband so have not taken down any decorations yet. Maybe tomorrow. Hyvää Loppiaista!
Susan, how serendipitious – I just came across a story about Nollaig na mBan by an irish-Newfoundler blogger.
Marja-Leena: I saw that blog too. This seems like a great custom. I think I’m going to get my woman friends together for a good roistering session. Why not? Maybe at St. Pats day.
The weather may be odd, but you certainly got some wonderful photos because of it!
Hattie, I think the idea was that the men had to prepare the food for the women. Of course that can happen in a restaurant – go for it!
Thanks, glad you like the photos, I was rather surprised to see some flowers in bloom for it’s not that warm.
Lovely rich colors. Here it is the January thaw, the deep snow sinking a little and icicles plunging off the houses.
Marly, green is the most prominent colour here with the evergreen trees and shrubs and the mossy almost neon green lawns. Lots of snow on the mountains provide white, when you can see them. Your description of a thaw takes me back…though it rarely came in January up north or on the prairies. I may complain of the rain but it’s what makes this area so beautiful.