An Almanac Minute: The Winter Solstice

I love Dec. 2lst as it is the shortest day for daylight of the year. It kind of goes hand in hand with snowy days and nights. I love the dark nights, especially in the winter. To me, it is a reminder that "Old Man Winter" is near & I love the winter.

To PC Dove and Harvest Moon, Merry Meet and BB! We, too, shall be celebrating the Solstice, both Gard and Druid Trads, hope yours are potent gatherings as well. To everyone else, may the magick of this wonderful season, be it Solstice or Christmas or Hanukkah or whatever, infect us all with joy and love for one another... and may it last the next year through.

These are the best days to walk out to the firewood heated woodshop and start or work on an existing project. As the snow swirls outside the windows, I'm surrounded with the smell of sawn lumber and a pot of soup on the stove. It's a great time to get ready for the next beekeeping season too, making a few new hive bodies. I love this time of year!

Each season brings with itself something good. Winter brings snow & frost. Snow will replenish the water tables upon melting in the spring whereas frost allows mother nature to take a vacation and rewards us with maple syrup in April. A normal winter is also good for the economy since many businesses need winter to survive. Snow removal companies, firewood sellers, ski resorts, etc. So I love winter for all the good it brings to our communities.

While I am a summer person I see the beauty of all of the seasons in all the parts of the country I have traveled to. I live in upstate NY and have not been able to see the moon in a month...nor the sunset which I enjoy track in the sky on cloudless days. The days are getting longer, the seed catalogs arrive and "hope springs eternal". Thank you Mother Nature!