Yuletide Blessings!
Happy Hanukah!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Kwanzaa!
I do recognize Christmas out of habit, but in truth my real hoiday is Yule. Let me explain… long about Dec. 21st is the day called ”Yule” (y-ul) and this is the “Winter Solstice” (shortest day of year). It marks the God’s rebirth from the Goddess, and reminds us that Death’s product is Rebirth! Dec. 22nd is then the start of the Zodiacal Sign of Capricorn.
Through the Autumn the days have grown shorter, but upon the astrological Solstice, the days now start to grow; this is when the birth of the God comes into manifestation. Older religions celebrated on the 25th, Old Yule and because it is a traditional day of holy births, the Christian leaders had Jesus also born on this date to replace the Pagan births and celebrations. In 274, Emperor Aurelian had Rome celebrating the “Feast of the Invincible Sun” on Dec. 25th and by the year 529, Christmas had become a holiday celebrated by time off from work, unless you cooked or did something to enhance the festivities; this made into law by Justinian. If you wish to celebrate the “Twelve Days of Christmas”, which of course are also Pagan; then you might wish to do this Dec. 25th thru Jan. 6th.
The American Heritage Dictionary says modern “yule” is from Middle English, “yole” or “yule”; which comes from Old English “geol/geohhol”; from Common Germanic, “jehwla/jegwla”, meaning “unattested”. However, the Ency. of Traditional Symbols, pg 197: “yule, is from the Gallic gule, meaning a wheel.” While other sources say that “yula” is Anglo-Saxon for “wheel”. While Druid friends assure me the word is Germanic.
I loved my great-auntPeggy’s holiday cheer and decorations. And my aunt Shirl kept things festive too. In my younger days, my favorite trees were completely covered in hand created decorations. There is one Christmas on the farm that I did love — Christmas Eve is began to snow thick heavy flakes. There was no wind and for hours it came down as D. watched tv and I sat by the window watching. M. per usual, hid for a couple days in her bed because she hated the holiday. It was fairly late when D. came over to look out the window too and just then a nearly full moon came out and the whole valley awoke in brightness and the snow sparkled and glistened beautifully. I think it must have been about 1968-69.
Here in Florida we have been flitting about the low 80’s and today we have a little rain. It’s rather odd after growing up in eastern Ohio and living many years in northern Virginia, to walk about in shorts, see cars with their tops down, and worst — be buzzed by mosquitos! on Christmas Eve.
On the personal news — I just recovered nicely from a chest cold. We had a nice couple days here and I was even able to make us a nice turkey dinner today. Crys couldn’t be here just now but she’ll be back out this way in March.
News for my brothers – Stevie’s mom is pretty sure we have a half-sister out there born around 1975 or so. The woman left Homer Laughlin where D. worked, soon after her pregnancy began showing but Stevie’s mom has given promise to asking around and see if any gossip comes up. She just remembers the rumors of that time.
On the webpage news – bad news. Other among my friends have been hit. Their sites downloaded and uploaded with a couple problem links. I’ve learned that such links can give vistors “viruses”, or take over their computers, or grab their address books. It just depends on what the bad guys want to do with such computers. WE as the web owner can do nothing to protect ourselves but get good hosts… we have to rely on our webhost for protection. Obviously some can’t, at least for us little people??? I have not given up, but must admit I am feeling a bit depressed over this.
Happy Holidays everybody, no matter how you celebrate… please have a wonderful week at this holy time of year. Den
