midwinter vigil

Yule is a twelve-day festival beginning December 20th - Mother’s Night, when the celebration of Yule officially starts.

This is the day known as Mōdraniht in Old English, and Mother’s Night in modern - we honor and offer thanks to our female ancestors, those who watch over our families and help us in times of need.

Edgewater, New Jersey, 20 December 2023

The winter solstice is often seen as the pivot on which the year rotates, the shortest day followed by the longest night after which the days grow longer again. The solstice is a pause at the darkest part of the year. The power of incubation and Gaia’s darkness are gratefully honored at this festival as the Sun returns.

The sun is now holding its place in the sky. Daylight is neither diminishing nor brightening. Things are at a stand-still, as though the world were poised for the change that is coming. For the ancients who lived in the absence of clock time this was a tremendously sacred time.

George Washington Bridge against a wintry NYC sky

The planet continues its annual rotation - day continues to follow night. Yet something deep is occurring to our planet. It has reached a significant pivot point in the annual cycle. Opposite to its parallel summer location, the earth now holds still.

early morning meditative light

Our ancestors observed that the sun stood still in the sky for several days - rising and setting at its southernmost position. This original meaning is revealed in the Latin etymology of the word solstice -sol stit. In the unnerving depths of winter’s dark the sun stands still. 

golden harvest front entrance arrangement

In The Clearing by Katherine May she suggests it is possible to restore our connection to the pause in the year. That to do this we need to return to an older understanding of this moment. It is not a build-up to a single day followed by a season of atonement, but instead a time between times - this season within a season.

12 year old lush indoor fig tree

This is Yule, the Northern European winter festival that pre-dated Christianity - the Twelve Days of Christmas, the Slavic Koliada, the Celtic Omen Days. What if we approach Midwinter as a process, not an event? Clearing space for it - making it experiential - to be lived? Then we allow ourselves to be changed by it. 

quartz crystal bowls out in the sunshine

Here are May's five suggestions for keeping the long midwinter.

1. Celebrate the hibernal solstice. As the sun rests we give thanks and find calm in this moment of transition into another state.
2. Remember your ancestors. Remember and honor those who have gone ahead and paved our way.
3. Bring in the green. Evergreens are not mere decor, they freshen and drive away the dark by bringing in the divine and ever growing. 
4. Turn the tables. Remember to give to the children, allow them to lead and show us what they can do. 
5. Stretch the feast. Balance the feasting across the holidays instead of cramming it all in a day.

river reflections at high tide

Retreats and vigils between Christmas celebrations and the new year keeps the energy mindful rather than frenetic or fraught.

A lovely way to keep the holiday spirit special every day this very precious time of the year. wonder | wander | women greet all our readers a happy yuletide season!

winter solstice sunrise on the river