Winter solstice...

[bluemoon]

Bright blessings to everyone for Yule!!!!

If you don't know, Yule is the pagan new year - and yes, tomorrow is usually the shortest day :-)

As a pagan of more than 30 years I - and every other pagan I know - celebrate New Year at Samhain (Hallowe'en) So there's obviously a bit of choice here. Either way, wish you all well, - pagan or not - and let's all just enjoy it, whatever we're celebrating.

[Flummery]

The first year we lived here I wassailed my new damson and tayberry - gave them a drop or two of champers. It was New year - it was also The Millennium so I thought it was special.

[SueA]

Happy Solstice/Yule/Bright Blessings etc. to all the grapevine pagans. I'm just happy the days will start getting longer again, roll on the spring!

[Two_Sheds]

As the days grow longer, the cold grows stronger (or something). No celebrating here until March 21st !

[rustylady]

I'm just pleased that the daylight hours will be getting longer again now. Looking forward to Spring - I hate winter with short days, getting up for work when it's still dark and going home in the dark too!!

[Mrs Dobby]

Solstice / Yule greetings to all for tomorrow! (And a merry christmas, happy new year, happy eid etc to those not of a pagan persuasion!)

Yep, thanks for that vote of confidence Tony! Generally the solstice is celebrated as Yule, and as has already been said, can be the 21st or 22nd of December, but usually is celebrated on the 21st (as it is the usual day and if planning in advance then it makes more sense to have a 'set' date!)

AFAIK most Pagans of our acquaintance celebrate new year at Samhain - pronounced sowin - (halloween) rather than at Yule, and in fact the calendar new year is timed as per the roman calendar (or so I was taught), whereas the year end in March is nothing more than the financial year end, nothing to do with paganism as far as I know!

Oh, and everdream, arent you forgetting the sabbat of Imbolg (aka Imbolc / Candlemas / Lady Day / Feast of Brighid / etc) in February, a cross quarter day / agricultural and fire festival, or is that one that you dont celebrate? We usually plant out spuds out if the weather is ok (and we've had the beds covered) at Imbolg as its the start fo the planting season hereabouts!

Anyway, holiday greetings to all, hope you have a great festive period, however you choose to celebrate it!

PS - I got my prezzie from my boss this week, I'm getting promoted to a much biger branch - more staff, more stock, more customer, more hassles and a little bit of a pay rise! Cool!

[Nicos]

Mrs D!!!!
Wherefore art thou bin hidin????

Good to hear from you!
Mr D clearly been keeping an eye on you!
No doubt run off your feet at this time of the year...and YEY....well done on the promotion- from what you have said, it's clearly been well deserved! ( nice bit of news for you both at Crimbo!)

Hang around a bit more please cos peeps have been picking on my frozen cherries!!!!

So what happens tomorrow then to celebrate??

[piskieinboots]

hey superb promo news Mrs D well done you

Frozen cherries

[littlemark]

Happy Shallot Planting day to everyone.

Mark

[pigletwillie]

I couldnt get them into the ground if I wanted to plant them today. Although today is the "traditional" time to do so, I wait until the end of February before planting out.

[Flummery]

Hope the new branch is nearer to home Mrs D?

[moggssue]

Thanks for that Mrs D - and a huge CONGRATULATIONS and well done on the promo!!

And no, I couldnt plant diddly squat at the mo, even the brass monkeys are moaning!

[scarey55]

Wellie and I did our shallots much earlier (in the beginning of November) when she was here, good thing too because, like you, Pigletwillie - I couldn't get them in the ground today if I tried!

[Nicos]

Same here piglet!

I've got to dig up some carrots and parsnips this weekend from the permafrost....that should be fun!!!( better go and find the pickaxe )

[Flummery]

Should warm up by Sun/Mon. I'm lifting my parsnips then. And planting a couple of yummy shrubs. Pyracantha 'orange glow', Pittosporum 'something-or-other gold' (might be abbotsbury? - label outside in the cold - Flummy a softie!) and choiysia 'goldfinger'. Just need to be able to get me implements in the soil and I'm off!