Winter Solstice in the Bucket

THE LONGEST DARK TIME OF THE YEAR

That is today and tomorrow.

Time to toss out the burdens of the past and time to clear the decks for action in the New Year.
That is what  the Winter solstice is to us.  It is the energy of  the  darkness in a battle with the energy of light. It is the pivot that the planet and the sun stand upon and  hold their position. For a brief stasis -- the time of the longest night-- and then the days minute by minute  gain time and light increases until it crests in the longest daylight day of the Summer Solstice . 

These days of extreme darkness and light were central to Celtic life and were probably observed by most of humankind.

It is not an accident that the date for the birth of Jesus was set at December 25.  It once was celebrated in Spring but then the Pagans--name for non- Christians-- still celebrated the  turning from darkness to light of the SOLSTICE.  After all, early humans saw the increasing darkness and death of leaves and plants as a cause for anxiety--they were not certain when the light would return to bless the world again.  Stonehenge in England and the Great  Mounds at  the Boyne in Ireland are two sites that mark that departure and return.
And since Jesus was the LIGHT OF THE  WORLD-- then it seemed that He must have come when the  light slowly comes  back.
  

THERE ARE MANY RITUALS IN HOUSE HOLDS.THAT STILL REFLECT THESE CELESTIAL EVENTS. 

Numerous customs involving the use of incense have survived. Traditionally, there are three occasions to "smoke out" the house: Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and the evening before Epiphany, which marks the last day of the Christmas celebrations. On these occasions, all people living in a house walk ritually from room to room and burn incense and certain herbs, while the head of the household speaks prayers. 

On farms, stables and animals are included in the round. Sometimes consecrated water is sprinkled in the rooms. The use of fire and water hints at a purification ritual.

Around this time of the year there is generally a liberal use of lights and candles. I often notice that people don't just put candles up because it is dark. It seems to be somehow culturally ingrained to do so, and I guess that these customs are remains of light rituals reaching back further than we might imagine.

Almost gone are the wassailing customs, where the head of the farm would bless the fruit trees and pour them a libation of wine. This should induce the tree to bear rich fruit in summer. There was and still is much baking going on, especially of Christmas cookies. Sometimes they still come in traditional shapes, especially Sun shapes.

The deities of Alban Arthan the Celtic name for the WINTER SOLSTICE are the Dagda and Brighid. 
Brighid is the bearer of the flame of inspiration, which penetrates the darkness of mind and soul, just as the light of the reborn Sun penetrates the darkest time of the year. The cauldron of the Dagda is a symbol for the promise, that nature will bear fruit once again and care for all beings living on Earth

The plants of Alban Arthan are in the first place mistletoe and holly, but in a wider sense all evergreen plants, e.g. spruce, fir, pine etc. The green of the plants is pleasant to the eye and symbolizes the promise of renewal and new growth.

The central and essential thought of Alban Arthan is renewal.
We let the past behind us and greet the new. The world is undergoing constant change and we must change and adjust, too, in order to be able to survive. Change is inevitable. The German poet Heinrich Heine said: "Nothing is so permanent as change". In this knowledge, humankind celebrates festivals since times unknown, giving people the opportunity to let go of the old and to embrace the new things which life would certainly hold in store.

So time to renew our friendships and our lives. With the inspiration of the GOD who came as a BABY, we can approach ourselves and make new resolves for our growth in the NEW YEAR.