The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Hardfeather on December 21, 2009, 07:59:43 am

Title: Winter Solstice
Post by: Hardfeather on December 21, 2009, 07:59:43 am
Happy shortest day  ;D 8)
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Eagledance on December 21, 2009, 08:41:58 am
Happy Yule! ;D
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: sandy on December 21, 2009, 09:16:28 am
The shortest day with the most things to cram into it!!! Think we are all getting ready to hibernate and resist stuffing ourselves with chockies ;D
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Rosemary on December 21, 2009, 09:51:50 am
Resistance is futile!
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: HappyHippy on December 21, 2009, 10:21:34 am
And we've definately got the snow to go with it  ;D
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Hilarysmum on December 21, 2009, 11:27:08 am
Seasons greetings for the solstice.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: northfifeduckling on December 21, 2009, 05:23:19 pm
May there be LIGHT!!! Can't wait... :&> :chook:
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: doganjo on December 21, 2009, 05:44:32 pm
Don't worry - it gets lighter much quicker than it got darker (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Confused/confused-29.gif)
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: doganjo on December 21, 2009, 06:26:22 pm
Just realised I'm cold - wish I'd had a wood burner put in when I moved in here.  Stupid delaying it.  First job after New Year I think!  Off to get some hot food and a cuppa
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: MiriMaran on December 21, 2009, 08:11:38 pm
Yipee the lights on the change.  Happy Winter Solstice
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: little blue on December 21, 2009, 08:18:34 pm
Happy Yule tide!
Have you got your wreath up?  And dont go turning any wheels or churns....
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: northfifeduckling on December 21, 2009, 09:30:59 pm
Is that where the rule of not washing between X-mas ans new year comes from, the turning churns? My gran was adamant - I try to stick to it, more to have a rest from it than anything else lol. Can't avoid the car, I suppose  :&>
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: doganjo on December 21, 2009, 10:42:13 pm
Never heard of that one.  And I don't like wreaths - remind me of funerals
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: marigold on December 22, 2009, 01:14:18 am
Does that just mean washing clothes cos they go round in a machine ? or can i avoid washing myself to? heating water up on the stove to bathe in cos the pipe to the shower is frozen is a real bind. If I put on enough clothing maybe no one will smell me if I don't wash for a week.
Gone are the days when people were stitched into their underwear in the autumn and cut it off in the spring - thank goodness
Happy longest night everyone. Wish I'd gone to bed earlier and spent it sleeping.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: northfifeduckling on December 22, 2009, 01:39:24 pm
I always assumed it had to do with washing hanging on the line, so wrong  ;D little blue, any idea where this originates? Marigold, by all means to keep warm with all the coating on the skin intact :D  Inhabitants of the Himalayas don't wash either and those temperatures are about the same now as here!  :&>
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: little blue on December 22, 2009, 07:57:15 pm
The wreath is a Pagan symbol for the 'circle of life'  or 'wheel of the year'. On the winter solstice, the wheel stops turning, and you should reflect on the peace and stillness, look back on the year past and look forward to the new year and lengthening days.  and not turn anything!
The holly and ivy give protection to the household (and then the Christians added candles for Advent)

Not sure where the 'not washing' originates from....  But makes sense if its to do with keeping warm!
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Rosemary on December 23, 2009, 11:14:52 am
Does the same apply on the summer solstice - ie stopping to reflect?
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: little blue on December 23, 2009, 08:23:43 pm
I think so, but the 'Wheel of life' doesnt stop on the summer solstice, so its not quite the same.
My friend who is Pagan has changed jobs so I cant ask him so easily! (alledgedly, our ex boss was too, and he once saw her dancing naked which was quite a surprise!  Nobody mentioned it directly to her though...)
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Snoopy on December 26, 2009, 10:12:21 am
I Love all this Pagan stuff - the thing is, we have had frozen water for five days now,
and my dishwashers are full, and I will have to use paper plates and cups for our
party today, and I can't wash my hair, and my shower and washing machine wont
work either.

So I am becomming a True PAgan woman ::)

Burning lots of logs. ;D ;D

If it doesnt thaw soon will have to go out and scoop snow up in pans to boil on
the wood burning stove so can wash hair and pots and pans  :o  ;D

How deep do you have to bury water pipes to stop them freezing???

Julie
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Crofter on December 26, 2009, 11:56:17 am
Hi Julie

They usually recommend 4 feet deep for water pipes.  Ours are nothing like that but we seldom get more than 3 degrees of frost here.

Dave
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: doganjo on December 26, 2009, 02:49:30 pm
IIwas told 18inches when I was building my new house.  Seems to be OK so far and I believe they have minus 10 there today,.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: marigold on December 26, 2009, 05:58:25 pm
I know just how you feel snoopy. Our shower has been frozen for days. We heated pots on the stove and had a bath on Christmas eve but it was only a few inches deep with ice on the inside of the bathroom window. An envigorating experience. So glad no one gave me shower gel for christmas it would have added insult to injury. A stand up wash just does not do the trick
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: Rosemary on December 26, 2009, 07:10:12 pm
You could go swimming tomorrow! If the roads are clear that is.
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: marigold on December 26, 2009, 08:47:22 pm
You could go swimming tomorrow! If the roads are clear that is.
What a good idea!!!!! I could go for a sauna too - didn't even cross my mind
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: scattybiker1972 on December 29, 2009, 03:24:18 pm
Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all.  what do you think to go in cards?
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: HappyHippy on December 29, 2009, 05:57:14 pm
 ;D ;D ;D
Time to give Hallmark a call me thinks  ;)
Title: Re: Winter Solstice
Post by: marigold on December 29, 2009, 10:46:17 pm
Think you should get copyright before others nick it - its so catchy!