WINTER SOLSTICE in the GARDEN

2017

Our predawn bonfire celebrates the end of the year's longest night,

and the sun's ascent as the embers die.

Joan 

Mich tends the fire while we stand vigil watching for the rising sun with Nakai's flute playing in the background.

Joan Gussow, our foundress, started this tradition.  In 1995, a few Gardeners and her husband Alan met in their backyard on a very cold morning and stood around the fire burning in the barbecue pit while awaiting the sun.  The following year Joan, with permission from the Fire Dept, built the bonfire in her driveway and opened it up to Gardeners and friends. One solstice, the embers were flying high and all over.  A Piermont policeman was just coming off duty and stopped by to investigate. Joan went out to explain that we were cheering on the sun to come up.  He encouraged us to carry on and drove off!

Dan Sherman spontaneously quoted Emily Dickinson at our gathering:

I’ll tell you how the sun rose -

A ribbon at a time.

The steeple swam in amethyst, 

the news like squirrels ran.

The hills untied their bonnets, 

the bobolinks begun.

Then, I said softly to myself, 

that must have been the sun.

But how he set I know not ...

A hot drink before smudging the Garden and each other at sunrise.

Some brought sweet bread and other delectables to share. Each person brought their own hot drink; others brought a poem or reading to share.  Music was provided by Carlos Nakai's "Winter Dreams".  

Sandy smudges Joan.

                 

At sunrise, Sandy Sheridan introduced, as part of the event, the tradition of smudging the Garden and each other.  

The sun is getting stronger.  We'll have a garden this year again!

Mich and Dan walk the perimeter of the Garden.

After the smudging, we did the slow walk around the perimeter of the Garden three times.  

Sandy carries the mullein torch as she blesses the Garden, walking the perimeter..

2018 Photos

THE FIRE

Joan and Carol built the fire 2 days prior.

The wind kept changing direction as sparks flew.

Joan tends the fire. Sandy warms herself.

THE SUN IS RISING the FIRE IS WANING!!

Denise and Doreen -- a warm drink goes a long way on a cold winter morn 

         

The fire collapses into itself.

Sandy, Carol & Patti just before entering the Garden

 LET THE SMUDGING BEGIN!

Sandy smudges Patti.

Erik, Denise and Joan before joining the smudging.

Doreen, Patti and others enjoy the dying embers after smudging.

Sandy smudges the last of the Garden on this cloudy Solstice morn.

2019

Winter Solstice

Yule is that Celtic midwinter celebration that marks the time of the winter solstice when the coming of spring seems a faint hope. To fortify that hope, the ancient Celts held a celebration of lights to give power to the returning sun.  They brought evergreens into their homes to symbolize life at the time when most of nature seemed dead. They gave and received gifts to represent wisdom gained from looking inward during the long winter nights.