Yule tidings, y’all!
[Have we mentioned we live in Texas?]
Today is the shortest day of the year and the first day of winter. While the sun will be spending more time in our sky in the days to come, his warmth will be mightily tempered by winter’s chill. As Jax said last week, the best way to find warmth this time of year is among family and friends. We’d like to know how you spend time with loved ones in the winter. What traditions does your family have for Yule, Christmas, New Years, etc?
I’ll start.
I like to learn about winter traditions around the world. I am fascinated by what people in other countries do to celebrate winter holidays. Here are some terrific photos of cultural practices. There is also a great site called The Holiday Spot that summarizes customs from other countries. About.com has some neat information, too. I especially like the Italian custom of a woman, La Befana, handing out presents.
What do you do to celebrate winter holidays?
3 comments
k! says:
Dec 24, 2010
We always go to midnight mass (though we don’t call it mass, per se, in the Anglican church). I love when they turn the sanctuary lights out and we light candles, person to person, while singing Silent Night. It’s gentle and contemplative, intimate and beautiful, and is probably my favorite service of the year. And the symbolism of that candle, as Jax said, in the longest nights of the year is meaningful to me. One of the hardest thing about having a baby has been sacrificing the midnight service. This will be my first year doing the kiddos Christmas pageant instead… wish me luck! Not quite the same atmosphere of promise and respite, I fear….
k! says:
Dec 24, 2010
I should correct myself – we don’t usually call it mass in the *Episcopal* church. Whether we count as Anglicans is currently up for debate. 😉
Jax says:
Dec 24, 2010
I feel for you all in this! I have a lot of family and friends that are Episcopalian/Anglican, and it’s been tough on all of them!
Silent Night by candlelight sounds fabulous… I know it’ll be different to go to the Pageant, but I hope you find something equally compelling (though vastly different) in the performance! Oh! And good luck! hahaha