And so the Festivals of Light are Come

…Winter Solstice..Yule…Christmas.- all over the Northern Hemisphere, in places where the darkness rules at this time of the year, grew the Festivals of Light, to lighten the darkness of an otherwise mysterious and fearsome world. Though I am not now a Christian, I grew up in a Christian home, so my earliest experiences were of the beautiful Christian story and its artefacts - the Nativity, The Gifts, animals everywhere, an abundance of stars (and one in particular!). A story combined, in my house as in so many others, with the older Pagan traditions of marking the Winter Solstice by bringing in greenery from outdoors; always a decorated Christmas tree (Thank you, Prince Albert!) but rarely a Yule Log - except in the form of a chocolate cake with robins, Father Christmas and tobogganing Snowmen, all added with abandon!

When I had my own family, I continued the old traditions and added some of our own - each year I buy and make one or two 'special' ornaments to hang on the tree, to join the obligatory toilet-roll Santa, made by Tim at nursery when he was three, and cross-stitched, bamboo chomping Panda, crafted by Hugh around seven years old. Both of those are non-negotiable. They go on first, in pride of place.

I also made Advent Calendars for the boys for three decades - covering a cereal packet in Chrismassy paper, attaching the annual gift of a religious ('proper') Advent calendar from their paternal grandmother, and filling the box with tiny, individually wrapped little gifts that I had collected through the year. For several years, these included the eternal egg laying plastic chicken from Hawkins Bazaar, which was an absolute treasury of ideas - the arrival of 'The Box of Stuff' from Hawkins was an event in itself each December..

Well, Tim had his last calendar when he was 30 - and now I have decided that Stockings are also no longer appropriate for the moment. Finding 'stuff' to put into them got harder and harder…I know that there was a groan  when the apple, tangerine and banana were retrieved, (but, I suspect, never eaten) and one more can of car de-icer would be one can too far this year!

So  this year, Baskets will take over - now for both boys and their partners - and material gifts will include more creative items than in the past… (can't give away TOO many secrets…) - but the tree is still up, the Naff Gnomes and Nut Crackers will still make an appearance, The Santas will once again convene on the desk in my hall.

The Ancestors will still get their bits of tinsel on their heads (whether they like it or not, though I think Sir Henry, as Queen Elizabeth 1st's Champion was more than used to a bit of glitter and bling) and I will still worry about the abundance of The Banquet (Who can eat what?, will there be ENOUGH? and will the roast potatoes be DONE??)

All will be as it should be - including last minute anxieties and panics. There will, of course, be more than enough…and we will all be, and have, more than enough, because we will have what I value more than anything material these days.  All around me, I will have my dearly loved ones. I need nothing else.

Enough!!

If you want to know what my own childhood Christmases of the 1950's were like - listen to this - Dylan Thomas reading his own 'Child's Christmas in Wales'. It is a blueprint for the way working class family festivities in Wales played out for decades, probably centuries, and a Transport of Delight for me each time I listen to it.

Make time to sit with your families and friends this Midwinter festival time, dear readers. Tell the stories…happy and sad. Write them down…remember them. Remember those no longer with us…for in your remembering, you make them immortal. Remember and love, as best you can,  those who are with us in the Here and Now - for in the end, love is all that is necessary, all we need and all that will remain, when the tinsel and trees are down and disintegrated into dust. 

Make Merry and Make Memories, my friends -  and the heartiest Greetings of the Season, however you celebrate it, to you all, from all of us at Autumn Cottage!

Comments

[Ardi Butler]

What a beautiful post, Roz. I love every photo and every word. It truly is the time of year to snug up your family and celebrate what's right with us all. Sending love and fond memories to you.

[Elaine Brown]

Dear Roz,
So good to see your cozy home at Christmas. Glad you are feeling better now.
I love the dishes on the table as that is the way it is when you are entertaining. A celebration well done.
My family and friends will come over for Open House the 24th for food and drink. It was a tradition that my mother-in-law did each year. She had everyone over for midnight dinner for years until the grand babies arrived. We wore long dresses and the guys suits. She served a large roast and homemade rolls and cheesecake to name a few. Her mother was Danish and came to the states as a nurse before WWI. My mother-in-law loved Danish Christmas ornaments and I have many in our house.
I wish you the best for a Merry Christmas and the Happiest New Year.
Sincerely,
Elaine

[brenda scofield]

Yes, very, very Roz! Autumn Cottage lends itself to your lovely touch. I suspect that our childhood Christmases were very similar. Our Christmas tree was on the landing, with Cinderella Bakerlite lamps (Oh where are they now?) but the day itself usually ruined by a demanding Grandmother who insisted that her dinner was delivered to her and wouldn't budge to join our little band at home. Maybe that's why I value, like you, the gathering of close family.

I've just decorated the tree down here in Sydney, having "done Christmas" already at our home party in HK and spent days decorating that place! Two Christmases preceded by Thanksgiving is getting to me!

[Diana N.]

thank you for sharing your cottage and holiday memories. I put bird seed out for the solstice and enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels enjoying the seed. Your cottage..how cozy. I have a picture of my great grandmother's and great aunt's brothers and sisters long gone before I was born. Just last year, I put a little ornament or ribbon by that picture and did it again this year. I'm pulling out some photo albums now to visit with old friends and family . I like your fox pillow in front of the fireplace. Fox has entered my life this year...a fox sighting, a thought, then an image on a nut, and then an uncanny picture on my computer. Now foxes I bought on pictures , plates, because I know it means something to me. My husband noticed when I bought a stuffed animal Fox , so I told him the story . I now have little fox earrings in my ears. I don't know what the fox imagery means to me other than it makes me feel Smart, cozy, and safe. Odd that I shared this with you , but with your fox pillow there I felt you would understand. Happy New Years!