Solstice Time Is Here....
Bonfires everywhere....
I've been listening to Vince Guaraldi a bit much, I think.
We were graced with a citywide glaze of ice yesterday, and today has the distinction of being the first day the snow has stayed on the ground for more than 4 hours.
It's odd to note the difference in celebrations from one community to the next. Here, Winter Solstice is a time for quiet reflection and drawing inward. In Fairbanks, it's a social holiday. Not as social as the Summer Solstice, but a time for public celebration nonetheless. As odd as this is for me to say, I think I like the Alaskan way better. The light has come back. What better way to welcome it than a big old party? There's always a slight element of mourning in Summer Solstice celebrations, because the light is going away again. And when you lose 7 minutes of light a day, it's damn noticeable.
All this contemplation has made me realize that this year was one of the last chances I have to celebrate the holidays up there. Clearly not happening this year, but perhaps the next.
I've been trying to find a picture of what the sun will do up there today, and I've found a few interesting sites:
An excellent photoblog of an Alaskan winter train ride (note: Z & I (and my mom, and everyone else who visits us) have gone white-water rafting on the Nenana River that shows up in here. In the summer, of course.)
Just general Alaskan winter stuff. Scroll a little more than halfway down to see the picture of the sun's trajectory today. Or just go here.
Our celebrations tonight will consist of decorating cookies to give as gifts. I had hoped to be out and about to give the cookies tonight, but it was not to be.
The wheel turns, and we face another cycle. Peace and love to everyone.
I've been listening to Vince Guaraldi a bit much, I think.
We were graced with a citywide glaze of ice yesterday, and today has the distinction of being the first day the snow has stayed on the ground for more than 4 hours.
It's odd to note the difference in celebrations from one community to the next. Here, Winter Solstice is a time for quiet reflection and drawing inward. In Fairbanks, it's a social holiday. Not as social as the Summer Solstice, but a time for public celebration nonetheless. As odd as this is for me to say, I think I like the Alaskan way better. The light has come back. What better way to welcome it than a big old party? There's always a slight element of mourning in Summer Solstice celebrations, because the light is going away again. And when you lose 7 minutes of light a day, it's damn noticeable.
All this contemplation has made me realize that this year was one of the last chances I have to celebrate the holidays up there. Clearly not happening this year, but perhaps the next.
I've been trying to find a picture of what the sun will do up there today, and I've found a few interesting sites:
An excellent photoblog of an Alaskan winter train ride (note: Z & I (and my mom, and everyone else who visits us) have gone white-water rafting on the Nenana River that shows up in here. In the summer, of course.)
Just general Alaskan winter stuff. Scroll a little more than halfway down to see the picture of the sun's trajectory today. Or just go here.
Our celebrations tonight will consist of decorating cookies to give as gifts. I had hoped to be out and about to give the cookies tonight, but it was not to be.
The wheel turns, and we face another cycle. Peace and love to everyone.