Happy Winter Solstice!

Happy Midwinter!!! (click here and here to find out what makes today the Winter Solstice and how it is celebrated around the world)

We decided early on that we didnt want the kids to load up on gifts on Christmas Day. Instead, we would rather celebrate many holidays with, perhaps, a gift on each one. First was St. Nicholas's Day (where the kids got new soothies). For Solstice, they are getting snow suits! Pretty fitting, seeing as it is the official start of winter and, even better, they can wear them to church on Christmas Eve and Christmas. They'll get a gift on Christmas and then a gift on Three Kings Day (Jan 6/Epiphany).

Of course, because of everyone else, it's not like they wont have tons to open on Christmas, too, but we wanted the focus to be on attending Mass and being with family, celebrating the birth of Jesus.

On Solstice, though, we look to how similar our celebrations are around the world. It is a time of joining together, putting our differences aside, and beginning the start of the new year. A time to burn the old yule log and toss in our failures of the year along with our hopes and resolutions for the new. A time to celebrate the shortest day of the year and realize that, tomorrow, we begin the ascent towards summer. A beautiful day indeed.

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The sun, the Son is born today...
Light of the world to light our way...

Through a warm winter or one full of snow...

His love grows.

Light the Yule Log for the darkest night is among us.

Light is replaced by dark though the ways of nature are just.

Deck the halls with red and green...

Welcome new life while the carolers sing

"Glory to God, the holly king"

Born again, so these gifts we bring...

The sun, the Son is born today...
Light of the world to light our way...

Through a warm winter or one full of snow...

His love grows.

As the sun shines through frosty glass, trim the Yule tree

Share nature's bounty with joy and health while glad tidings you bring

Light the frankincense and myrrh...
Feed the newly awakened birds...

Dance with joy to the world...

Stoke the fire with holly wood...

The sun, the Son is born today...
Light of the world to light our way...

Through a warm winter or one full of snow...

His love grows.

A child is born to save us all from a life without light.

As He grows from boy to man and God, He leads us through the night.

The sun is reborn, our weather warms, and we are overcome with glee.

On this Yule morning, we shout with joy for the birth of our king.

Gather everyone around the table; gather for the feast.

Remember though death was among us before, our sadness is replaced by peace.

Celebrate with fruit and wine...

Remember the sacred time...

Celebrate with ritual and with rhyme...

Show love to all kind...

The sun, the Son is born today...
Light of the world to light our way...

Through a warm winter or one full of snow...

His love grows.