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Solstice blessings - The Shortest Day (Cooper)

21 Dec 98 - 12:47 PM (#50450)
Subject: Add: The Shortest Day (Susan Cooper)
From: Animaterra

On this the shortest day, I want to share a poem by Susan Cooper that describes the 'Cat:

    THE SHORTEST DAY
    (Susan Cooper)

    And so the shortest day came, and the year died.
    And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white hills
    Came people singing, dancing,
    to drive the dark away.
    They lighted candles in the winter trees;
    They hung their homes with evergreens;
    They burned beseeching fires all night long
    To keep the year alive.
    and when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
    They shouted, revelling!
    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, feast, give thanks,
    And dearly love their friends,
    and hope for peace.
    And so do we, here, now,
    this year, and every year:
    Welcome Yule!


    Blessings to you all!
    Allison (with 2 ls)

06 Dec 00 - 06:11 PM (#352627)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

Refresh

06 Dec 00 - 06:13 PM (#352629)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Morticia

I always thought the 21st to be the shortest day?

06 Dec 00 - 06:14 PM (#352632)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: bflat

Thanks, Allison! Just lovely!

06 Dec 00 - 06:16 PM (#352635)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

It is, Morty. I refreshed this old thread (check out the date) in response to a discussion on the Decorating for the Solstice thread.

06 Dec 00 - 06:17 PM (#352637)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: NightWing

It is, Morticia. Occasionally it moves to the 20th or the 22nd (same reason we have Leap Years).

I assume Animaterra was simply getting an early start on the season. *G* The Christians do it; why can't we? :>

BB,
NightWing

06 Dec 00 - 06:18 PM (#352639)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

I mean the Decorating for Yuletide thread, of course!

06 Dec 00 - 06:20 PM (#352640)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Joe Offer

Thanks, Allison. I may chicken out on singing tonight and do this as a dramatic reading - if I can get through it. It kind of gets me all misty, ya know...
-Joe Offer-

06 Dec 00 - 06:20 PM (#352641)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Amergin

My parents 18th wedding anniversary is on the 21st....

06 Dec 00 - 06:23 PM (#352643)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Uncle_DaveO

Thirty-seven years ago my Beautiful Wife and I got married on December 21st. Longest night in the year. We were no fools!

Dave Oesterreich

06 Dec 00 - 07:02 PM (#352669)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Morticia

oh I see, Allison, sorry, being dim as usual :)

06 Dec 00 - 08:34 PM (#352725)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Dani

Hey, can I borrow this? My daughter's first grade class is studying all the 'usual' holidays, and I'm going to talk with them about the Winter Solstice. This would make a wonderful reading.

If anyone has any other ideas for sharing with little ones, I'd love to hear them!

Dani

06 Dec 00 - 09:34 PM (#352761)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Joe Offer

Click here for a rather interesting biography of Susan Cooper.
-Joe Offer-

06 Dec 00 - 09:55 PM (#352776)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: katlaughing

Dani, there is a neat project listed at WitchVox, called the Witches Ladder, that young children might enjoy. You will find it by scrolling down the page a bit. I am about to go post that to my Yueltide decorating thread, too. Should have checked there before I started the thread, but still it's been fun!

Beautiful poem, Allison, thanks for reviving it.

luvyakat

07 Dec 00 - 09:03 AM (#353004)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Dani

Thanks, but where I live, you can barely say the 'P' word, and you can forget about the 'W' word. I'm darn grateful for any opportunity to offer a little diversity and another view of the holiday insanity. "Deck the Hall" should just about do it, along with some discussion of darkness/light, yule decorations, etc.

I'm always interested in the ways in which these traditions sneak into our common culture and become part of the washed-out Hallmarkness of our American holiday celebrations without people realizing it.

Dani

07 Dec 00 - 09:57 AM (#353030)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: LR Mole

I myself think symbols are a snare, fit to skin only the bassist of us. Not to be high-hat about it, but brushing against the matter sometimes sticks in my craw.

10 Dec 00 - 03:42 AM (#354341)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Liz the Squeak

And blessings be to you to!! St Thomas's day is nearly upon us - chosen because of doubting man's inability to believe that the sun would return the next day!! There are reasons for choosing these saints days, that would make most Christians scream in horror and demand they be changed!!

After all, the Annunciation (Angel Gabriel, Mary and all that) is on 25th March, Eostre, a festival associated with fertility and birth. Add 9 months to that and you get.......?!!!

A good healthy respect for other religions is not heretical! Where in the bible does it tell you to go and kill some bloke just because he doesn't recited the creed facing East, or prays to Mary as well as the rest of the trio?

LTS

10 Dec 00 - 07:19 AM (#354374)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

Dani, I run into the same problem, so I focus at this time of year on Festivals of Light and use the poem, all the Christmas/Chanukah and non-holiday songs I can find about candles, bonfires, the sun, stars, etc. to illustrate one of the common threads that connects us. You may have to teach solstice celebrations as a history lesson, but don't be surprised if some little one pipes up: "Yeah! We do that too!"

10 Dec 00 - 12:33 PM (#354462)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Clinton Hammond2

Happy season folks!

;-)

21 Dec 00 - 01:36 PM (#361183)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Noreen

Refreshing the poem for today.

Thanks, Allison.

Noreen

21 Dec 00 - 04:06 PM (#361298)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings
From: Hollowfox

Kat, I've tried to find the Witches ladder a couple of times at WitchVox, and I've found everything but. Lovely site, but could you tell me just where to look, please? Thanks.

20 Dec 18 - 01:06 AM (#3967375)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings - The Shortest Day (Cooper)
From: Joe Offer

Robert Rodriquez reminded me of this poem, and I think this thread warrants refreshing. He says the poem is a regular part of many Revels performances. Happy Solstice, everyone!
-Joe-

20 Dec 18 - 04:36 AM (#3967394)
Subject: RE: Solstice blessings - The Shortest Day (Cooper)
From: Dave the Gnome

Same to you, Joe. And happy Christmas, joyous Yule, peaceful Saturnalia, merry St Lucia's day...

Sheesh. No wonder people cut it down to happy holidays :-)