[Fleecewife]

Well, today is the Winter Solstice and from now on our days will get longer - at last.  I don't do well in the dark days of winter so we celebrate the Solstice and its relevance to growers and animal husbanders like us.
Later today we shall be eating a wonderful meal of a Hebridean stew, made with our own sheep of course, our homegrown potatoes and delicious curly kale - simple and relevant.  Then we fell a tree, cut the new Yule log from it and burn the old one. The rest of the tree is used as fodder for the sheep and firewood for us.
Anyone else celebrating?

[Forestlens]

Well I wasn’t planning to……but any excuse for a piss-up

[Womble]

Yes, definitely. I'm no fan of winter at all

*stares into SAD lamp

[Rosemary]

We had planned a gathering of chums and a bonfire, but we'll probably light the fire, some candles and toast the turn of the year.

[GribinIsaf]

Anyone else celebrating?

Here is our Solstice walk today

https://gribinisaf.wordpress.com/2021/12/21/stripping-away-the-superfluous/

[Fleecewife]

Anyone else celebrating?

Here is our Solstice walk today

https://gribinisaf.wordpress.com/2021/12/21/stripping-away-the-superfluous/

Thank you at Gribin Isaf. Your lovely photos and woodland walk imparted a feeling of everything on hold but just waiting to burst forth.  Daffs coming through so early- ours are weeks away still, but I was noticing today too that some of the trees have the earliest signs of buds, and small catkins are hanging in the sunshine.
In the garden we still have a few roses out, freezing and thawing.
Once we have passed the Solstice I feel a huge sense of released breath because now the days will get longer.

Actually I'm quite surprised at how few people seem to celebrate the Solstice, if only with a drink.  For land workers, which is what we all are, the changing seasons, day length and warmth or cold are what govern our lives. I think of farmers as being in tune with nature but maybe some of us have missed that.
I hope those of you who have noted today really enjoyed it.

[Perris]

Fleecewife did you see / hear that latest thinking on Stonehenge is it was built to celebrate the winter solstice rather than the summer? Certainly in keeping with your remarks on the importance of this turning point in the year for people who depend on the land and its produce.

[Womble]

Well, I know which one I'd be more likely to stack rocks up for as a celebration!


The nights are fair drawing out though folks, don't you think? 

[SallyintNorth]

Solstice is our #1 celebration here.  For three reasons, I guess.  Firstly and very practically, some members go visit family and friends at Christmas, but we are still usually all here together at Solstice, so we make that the "for us" (as a community) celebration.  We have a feast with a goose, Secret Santa presents are given out (max spend £10, most will be hand made or charity shop finds.)  This year we had the feast on Sunday 19th as that was the day that suited most members, and then we have a small ceremony on the actual Solstice, doing the "what we want to leave behind and what we are looking forward to" thing.  And that is the second reason we make a big deal of the Solstice : one of our members is a celebrant and just *loves* putting together ceremonies!  lol.  And the third reason is the same as all of you : the turning of the earth has a very direct meaning to land-based folk, and so it does to us.  The tipping point, the shortest day behind us, is hugely significant! 

We do do Christmas as well, for whoever is here (which is usually similar numbers but made up of some members and some visitors), very low key and to me, utterly joyful and enjoyable .  We did presents at Solstice so Xmas Day isn't about presents at all, although of course some families still do a bit of that on their own houses.  Nothing too early so the milking team can get done, a good breakfast of our own bacon and eggs, usually a group of us sing carols in our meditation hut, which always ends up with lots of laughter, then some of us go and sing to all the animals too.  A community walk in the afternoon, an early supper with turkey for those who want it and some of our own lamb or ham for the rest, then games and music in the farmhouse, maybe a karaoke later on.  And for me, no family and no presents, so no pressure!  lol. 

[Buttermilk]

This was our viewing yesterday.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IBIWm7Zoro&t=8s

[Fleecewife]

Well, I know which one I'd be more likely to stack rocks up for as a celebration!


The nights are fair drawing out though folks, don't you think? 

You don't have to choose between them @Womble  at least not in this country and at this time.  They're both pagan festivals supposedly, but you don't have to follow any creed to have a good time    As Yoda would say: Open your mind............ 

[Womble]

As Yoda would say: Open your mind............ 

I really want to build a henge, but Mrs Womble won't let me  .

[doganjo]

As Yoda would say: Open your mind............ 

I really want to build a henge, but Mrs Womble won't let me  .

Since when did that stop you?  You've plenty rocks over there to build a lovely henge

Hope to see you soon 

[Womble]

Don't you have to import them from Wales for a proper henge?

[Fleecewife]

Don't you have to import them from Wales for a proper henge?

The latest thinking is that the giant stones came from 20 miles north of where they stand.  The blue stones travelled mostly by water from Wales.  Take care, you might end up finding yourself in with the Jacobites and unable to get back in time to feed the livestock.