The Pagan Heart
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December 2004 Issue
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Winter Solstice
Activities
Mix it all together and place in a bowl.
Warning: not for consumption!
In a medium bowl, stir together the cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg and ginger. Mix in the applesauce and glue. Work the mixture with your hands 2 to 3 minutes to form a ball. If mixture is too wet, add more cinnamon. If mixture is too dry, add more applesauce. Lightly dust a clean surface with cinnamon. Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters, and use a toothpick to make a hole at the top for hanging with a ribbon. Dry in a slow oven 200 degrees F (100 degrees C) for several hours, or air dry in a sunny spot for 4 or 5 days. When dry, decorate with gingham and/ or ribbon.
Cut out a 5 inch diameter circle from the yellow paper (or trace a similar size circular container) and then from the black paper. Now cut out triangles (can vary in size) fromthe yellow paper and again from black paper. Glue the black and yellow circles together (one on top of the other). Now glue the triangles the same way. After the triangles are glued together, glue the black and yellow triangles to the circles..all yellow on one side and all balck on the other. Your sun will have a dark side and a bright side. Decorate your sun and glue black or silver glitter on the black side and the yellow or gold glitter on the yellow side. Hang your sun on the door with the dark side facing out on the eve of the solstice (Dec. 20th) to represent the death of the sun. On the solstice morning (Dec. 21) or at the actual time of occurence (4:42am PST) flip your sun to the bright side facing outwards to represent the birth of the sun again.
These can be a lot of fun. To make stringing easier you should use popcorn that is one to two days old because "stale" popcorn strings much easier. Be sure to pop new bowls for snacking during stringing! A variation: Add berries, cereal (the kind with holes in the centers like Cheerios are great-especially for kids) popcorn, and seeds for an outdoor garland for the birds and small animals that share your space. Remember it's winter for them and they will appreciate the treat! Measure out a length of stringing material. 4 to 6 feet (an arm's length) is good; any longer and you have problems with the thread knotting up. If you want a really long garland, tie several together. Thread the needle. Tie a big knot at the far end. An alternative is to leave a couple of inches at the end and tie a loop around the first thing you string on the garland. Pass the needle through the popcorn. If your children are too young to handle sharp needles, they can move the popcorn down the length of the floss to the knot. Continue stringing until the garland is full. Hang the garland inside or outside. Remember that popcorn tends to "melt" in the rain. Also, if it's an outside garland, the creatures will probably eat everything in a couple of days, so if you put it out early, it won't last... If you are planning the bird-food garland, consider hanging suet (animal fat) from the garland. Birds really like it when it's cold outside. You might also try things like Fruit Loops, Cheerio's or other cereals.
Rituals
Prepare your home by placing a white or red candle in each room. On solstice night, turn out all the lights in your home (make sure you have a candle ready with matches). After sitting silently in the dark for a few moments, light the candle and welcome the Light back into the world. Then walk through the house lighting each candle you set out to welcome back the sunlight. or Greet the dawn with a candle light vigil ending with the rising sun. This does not mean you need to stay up all night. Wake early and begin your vigil before the sun has arrived. The most important part is to welcome the dawn.
The Ritual of the Solstice Light The Winter Solstice is the time of the shortest day and longest night. For many of our forebears this was a frightening time as they faced the very real possibility they might not survive through to the spring and summer. There is also the possibility they feared the sun would not return - an idea supported by the vast number of rituals revolving around "sympathetic magic". By creating a small version of what is desired, sympathetic magic aims to bring the larger event to fruition. The preponderance of fire rituals during the Solstice suggest such a concept was in practice. Today it isn't always practical to have a large bonfire, so we make do with smaller versions. This ritual revolves around using candles and focuses upon the spiritual and emotional aspects of the Solstice. Place a table in the centre of the room - one small enough for all members to sit around and short enough that all children can see its surface. A coffee table is ideal. If you can't do this, use a normal table and chairs or improvise. In the centre place a sun symbol (golden platter, image of sun on paper, etc) and atop it a large yellow/golden/creamy candle - fat is good especially the ones with three wicks). Evenly spaced around the edge of the table in a rough circle place smaller candles (1 wick) - one for each person. In a smaller ring between the central candle and the outer ring place bowls of Solstice food offerings - seeds, nuts, fruits, Solstice breads and cakes. Make sure they are all sliced and in bite sized pieces with enough for all members to take a few pieces. Place a cup for each member with drinks of choice and include a large chalice/bowl with apple cider/juice/mead/yellow wine - all members will be tasting, so think of the children! Whoever is running the ceremony (the head) should assemble the group about the table and make the ritual invocation to the Sun: "May the Father share his light and warmth with us in these darkening hours. Bless this, our meal, and as we consume it let us partake of your strength." The headperson then lights the central candle. As each of the three wicks is set alight, recite the request for blessings: "I ask blessing for us all from He who is the Youth - share your vigour with us.
Have someone turn out the lights. Proceding clockwise around the table, starting with the headperson, light the candles and ask a personal blessing - it can be silent or aloud. It can be for self or others. While this is happening, the group should refrain from idle chatter. Once all the candles are lit, share out the food and individual drinks. As people nibble, let those who volunteered earlier tell Solstice tales -- these can include stories of various spirits of December such as Santa Claus, the Holly and Oak Kings, or Ukko and Joulupukki. Finish with a story about the return of the sun - tailor it to children if present and focus upon the joys and familial aspects. Then extinguish all lights - in reverse from the lighting. (Warn the children and if necessary take them outside the door to a small torchlit area where they can see in but have some light). Leave the room dark for a few moments while everyone thinks about the symbolism of the Solstice and what it means to them personally. Hold hands if you wish. Or not. The headperson then relights the central candle with this invocation: "As the days lengthen and we feel the hand of our Father warming us once more, let us remember how blessed we are. We are a part of this great cycle - let us not forget our connection. Let each Winter's Night remind us that without this we are nothing - worse than wolves in the cold, we would tear each other to pieces in our blindness and know not what we do. Great Father, we ask that you bless us with your love and help us remember who we are as your warmth returns to renew this earth." The headperson lifts the Solstice Chalice above the candle so the heat warms the base. Holding it there, say: "As this light bathes this cup, let the sun bathe us all, filling us with blessings." Take a sip and pass it around clockwise so all may partake. Then let the festivities begin - I suggest placing the Solstice candle up high. Everyone relights their candles and secures them up high too and then party!
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