Our Yule/Solstice Celebrations

This morning's was a FANTASTIC ceremony. We met at the sacred space in Guelph at 6:30 (I even got up early enough to bake a quiche to take with me - can you BELIEVE it???). Fergus is a true kin to me and is also quite a night owl. That said he was able to get out of bed at 5:45 (after going to bed at 12:30 this morning when our friends left our Yule party) and got himself ready to go.

Once everyone had arrived we went outside and chanted in the parking lot. Once it was certain that all of us knew the words to the various song and chants that we would be using we walked down, chanting/singing all the way, to the river's edge. We stomped out a circle in the snow (there were about 20-25 of us) and welcomed the elements. Two members of the circle acted out the meaning of the Solstice. We went around the circle stating what, in our lives, we were grateful for that sometimes also causes us challenges. Fergus said he was grateful for technology. It was sweet because I think everyone can relate to the idea of technology being wonderful and yet a challenge too.

Once we finished and closed the circle we walked back up to the sacred space (UU Fellowship Hall) and feasted on all of the food that everyone brought. I LOVE a good breakfast pot luck. It was YUMMY!

Anyway that was our celebration this morning. It followed a WONDERFUL evening, after sunset, when we spent time as a family exchanging our holiday gifts. The boys each got one big gift this year from us instead of a series of small gifts. They are now the proud owners of Sony PSP's. Other's knew they were getting them so they also have a few games to play too.

After the gift exchange a few of our friends came by and celebrated the holiday with us. We managed to light the house with candles and holiday lights. It was great fun. We kept the red candle remnant from this year (as we had last year) to light next year's candles. That's the best I can do for honouring the Yule Log tradition.

It has been since before Fergus was born that I was able to take part in ritual that involved fellow wiccans/pagans, outside of my immediate family. It was amazing. And to have Fergus there with me, loving every second of it . . . it wasn't just amazing . . . it was MAGICAL!