In honour of Solstice, for those among us who celebrate it and, also for the season in general, from an oldish book found at a library sale. I do not vouch for its accuracy, just find it quaint and interesting.

The tenth month of the old Roman year was numerically designated as December, an anachronism still retained. The Romans consecrated it to Saturn, and on the 17th day of that month the great festival, Saturnalia, was held. .....the celebration continued for seven days.

The Anglo Saxons designated the month as Midwinter-monat and Yule-monat. The original meaning of the word Yule has been traced to the Islandic Hjol, wheel, indicating that at this period the sun wheels or turns the winter solstice.

The yule log is a winter counterpart of the midsummer fire, but on account of the season, the ceremony is held indoors. Consequently it is more of a family festival... On Christmas Eve the yule log is lighted by a fragment of its predecessor which had been saved for the purpose from the previous year.

from the same book:

In 1649, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland appointed a commission of their own number to report to the next General Assembly as to druidical customs observed at the fires of Beltane, Midsummer, Halloween, and Yule. All the old customs were ordered to be discontinued, and people warned against kindling fires for superstitious purposes.

William J. Fielding: Strange Superstitions and Magical Practices © 1945 Hmmmm, sounds like a title our own Fielding might come up with to write about us!**BG*

Tomorrow's thought for the day will continue with words from a very old Scottish song and a Solstice invocation.

For those of you who are Christian, please know that next weekend's thoughts will focus on Christmas.

Thank you,

katlaughing