(Solstice – back again.)
It was actually yesterday, well Sunday now, about 15:00 GMT .
We made it to our farthest point from the sun, and started to orbit back.
Of course, the worst of winter, and the cold months, are still ahead of us – see my long rambling discussion of this a couple(?) of years ago- but from now, to paraphrase, technically- “the days are fair drawing out.”
We have evidence from antiquity of people celebrating and sacrificing at this time. Offerings to call back the sun, to propitiate the spring, to ensure that the great circle of life restarts.
Many of our ancient annual events are not celebrations per se, but rather, efforts to ensure that the cycle does go on.
You can find an interesting discussion of this in (Sir ) Terry Pratchet’s “Hogfather”, where the nice distinction is made between “the beginning of a new/day/year” and the “giant ball of flaming gas rising over the horizon”.
The latter one will happen anyway, but the new beginning, that’s something that has to be believed in. Fairytale, children’s story, or darkly humorous fantasy, it may be, but the concept speaks to me, and sometimes (I think) you can find a truth in the most unlikely places.
Where am I rambling with this?
Maybe we need to believe in Santa and Christmas and Solstice and New Year. For the magic to work, for the new beginning to happen, we have to be willing partners in it.
It’s bound to be on festive telly soon, “Railway Children”, the (Victorian) family are at a panto of Peter Pan. Tinkerbell is fading, and Peter appeals to the audience, “Do you believe in fairies?”… In a magnificent gesture, Father Waterbury (how many of you would have got that?), rises from his seat and booms out,
“YES! I most certainly do!”
I certainly do believe in the magic, and I hope you all find a share of it across this festive season.
Next week on IaDL :(resolution?)
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 