Sunday, December 21, 2008

Thoughts on the Winter Solstice

Today is traditionally the shortest day and the longest night of the year for those of us in the northern hemisphere. My Celtic ancestors once spent large amounts of time observing the heavens and constructing elaborate rituals around the day.

Today is barely observed as the start of winter, and the last four shopping days until Christmas.

It’s cold and the snow is blowing through the streets of Waukesha. But we’re well provisioned. The children are restless but there are plenty of things for them to do. We have hot chocolate. We have hot food. We have a warm house. We have each other.

As darkness falls over the sky perhaps we’ll remember three wise men from the East on a long journey, aided by the long night in their observance of a star.