Sunday, December 18, 2011

Yule Dinner Party

Last night was the Blue Moon Circle yearly Yule Dinner Party--a time when we gather together with family and friends to celebrate the Winter Solstice. We don't do ritual (since not everyone who comes to this particular event is a Pagan). Instead, we just enjoy being together, exchanging gifts, playing games, and eating (a lot). Since we don't get to see each other as much as we used to, just being together is celebration enough. Well, and there was cake. LOTS of cake.

There's great entertainment (that's Sophia and Shaylee putting on a song and dance number).


Everyone chipped in on a Criket Cake gizmo that Robin REALLY wanted, and she was so overwhelmed with happiness when she opened the box, she burst into tears.


But the best part was just sitting around the dinner table together (in the dining room that is normally my writing area, in case you couldn't tell), with the group Yule log burning, and smiles on every face.


The Winter Solstice celebrates the return of the light, as the days begin to slowly get longer and brighter from that point onward. For me, I feel blessed to have the light of friendship in my life, no matter what time of year it is.


I hope that you get to spend time this season with the ones you love. Happy holidays from me, the kitties, and Blue Moon Circle.







7 comments:

  1. It looks like a good time was had by all! Happy Solstice! That deep red velvet is beautiful on you!

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  2. Aw, thanks, Karen! (One of my favorite colors...after black.)

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  3. I told my husband I wanted to celebrate Yule but he said he doesn't want to change traditional chirstmas that much :( any ideas on how we can make the two mesh together?

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  4. Gracielou--
    What your husband doesn't realize, is that almost ALL of the Chrismas traditions are actually taken from Yule traditions in the first place :-)

    The Christmas tree is a pagan thing--they used to bring trees inside (and wreaths and pine boughs) to symbolize life in the midst of death. Mistletoe and holly were sacred to the Druids, and also used to symbolize color and life.

    Singing carols came from the old tradition of "Wassailing"--which was when people (usually after drinking a lot of wassail) would travel from house to house and sing for their neighbors.

    The lights on the Christmas tree were originally candles, used to symbolize the return of the light (since the Winter Solstice marks the point in the year when the days start getting longer again).

    So you can see that you are already celebrating Yule in all your "traditional" Christmas activities. You can either tell your husband that, and accent the pagan nature of your celebration...or just keep doing what you've always done, but celebrate in your heart the knowledge that it all springs from pagan roots :-)

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  5. I looooove the crushed velvet dress on you, so pretty! I have one in green, but the red is yummy! And your space is so cozy. And the group looks so close and loving! No wonder you are so inspired to write so eloquently about your practice, lucky and blessed woman! :o)

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  6. Thanks, Melissa! It's true--all my books (the nonfiction, that is) have been inspired and fueled by my work with Blue Moon Circle. I expect I wouldn't have written them had it not been for this lovely and warm group of women. I am very fortunate to have them in my life.

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