The shortest day...The longest night...

Its a pivotal day the shortest day and the longest night -  I am always thankful to celebrate the return of longer daylight days. 

The Winter Solstice a celebration of light returning and the earth awakening.  A time of togetherness and glimmerings of hope for the new year, and toasts to those we have loved and lost. Of remembrance, thanks and celebration.

A festival of lights - twinkling brights, welcoming the light with candles and also lit for remembrance of those loved and lost. An Evergreen solstice thanks to the garden which happens to have holly. (but I do need to introduce mistletoe )

A celebration of all good things had and to come - to be enjoyed and treasured.  A friend knowing my appreciation of the Winter Solstice sent me this poem called The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

'So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen;

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive,

And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, reveling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us – Listen!!

All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!'