[Perris]

then the nights start drawing out again - hooray! 

[Fleecewife]

Our goose is just waiting to be stuffed for tomorrow    but we haven't even chosen the Yule log yet 


Can hardly wait for those nights to start drawing out.

[DavidandCollette]

Get those fires put! Let the feasting begin! The Green Man is set to return. Happy Yuletide to you all

[philcaegrug]

Shortest day tomorrow for my birthday (22nd) to come quicker 

[JTFarms]

Happy Winter Solstice everyone! ?

[Fleecewife]

Happy Winter Solstice everyone! ?

Why the  ? ?  I don't understand 

[DavidandCollette]

Google it FW and you will find out how Xmas originated. Btw Santa is only red because coca cola made him so for their ad

[Fleecewife]

As I understand it, the Solstice is the shortest day and longest night of that year in the northern hemisphere, therefore the first day of the new year, and also the first day of winter, celebrated by agricultural societies for centuries.  Christmas was chosen by the Christian church as a suitable day for a 'holy' feast, as close to the solstice as possible so people were already celebrating it anyway.  Santa was green and has nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas or the Solstice, other than supposedly being St Nicholas/Claus.


I still don't understand why JTFarms put a    emoji after his wishes. OK, I'm a    . We celebrate the Solstice as being the shortest day, so the beginning of longer daylight hours, not for any religious or cult significance, just as Christmas is just the opportunity for a family get together not a form of Christian fest.


Anyway, the goose was perfect, the yule log is gracing the fireplace to be burnt next year, the old log is burnt and our mood is lifted by the promise of more daylight