Too many sun festivals
I made it through Christmas for another year. This is cause for celebration. :)
On the night of the Winter Solstice we engaged in our usual all-night vigil at a friend's house in the city. It's the one night of the year when I will myself no matter how I feel at 4:53 am, to stay awake until I see the sun. And of course much merriment and long talking into the night with friends. It's best to be in warm company in the long cold night.
The sunrise on the Solstice morning was beautiful this year. Usually we don't actually see the sun, because it's midwinter in San Francisco and clouds abound, so you stand around in the chill of pre-dawn until it has become bright enough that you realize the sun is up, and you say "Hail, the sun rose again, I think" and go down the hill to get some sleep. This year there was a narrow gap between the clouds on the horizon and the clouds overhead, into which the sun rose radiantly red and lit the edges of all the clouds on fire. In the dawn there were two little russet falcons chasing two big red-tailed hawks, and then the hawks soared up and away from the falcons, and then we saw one of the hawks stoop down swiftly to its prey. I think it will be a better year than last.
Christmas at the family's house and the usual round of gifts and food, and then another dinner in the evening at some friends' house, for the feast of Mithras. I have now celebrated the birth of the unconquerable Sun in three different ways, and I think that's about as much winter holiday as I can stand. :) Except of course Gregorian New Year. One more party; at least we only have to stay up until midnight this time.
I am tired.
On the night of the Winter Solstice we engaged in our usual all-night vigil at a friend's house in the city. It's the one night of the year when I will myself no matter how I feel at 4:53 am, to stay awake until I see the sun. And of course much merriment and long talking into the night with friends. It's best to be in warm company in the long cold night.
The sunrise on the Solstice morning was beautiful this year. Usually we don't actually see the sun, because it's midwinter in San Francisco and clouds abound, so you stand around in the chill of pre-dawn until it has become bright enough that you realize the sun is up, and you say "Hail, the sun rose again, I think" and go down the hill to get some sleep. This year there was a narrow gap between the clouds on the horizon and the clouds overhead, into which the sun rose radiantly red and lit the edges of all the clouds on fire. In the dawn there were two little russet falcons chasing two big red-tailed hawks, and then the hawks soared up and away from the falcons, and then we saw one of the hawks stoop down swiftly to its prey. I think it will be a better year than last.
Christmas at the family's house and the usual round of gifts and food, and then another dinner in the evening at some friends' house, for the feast of Mithras. I have now celebrated the birth of the unconquerable Sun in three different ways, and I think that's about as much winter holiday as I can stand. :) Except of course Gregorian New Year. One more party; at least we only have to stay up until midnight this time.
I am tired.