A Celebration Of Winter And Really Big Fish. Is a Trademark by Fond Du Lac Festivals, Inc., the address on file for this trademark is 650 North Main Street. A Celebration of Winter. Public Hosted by Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site - Texas Parks and Wildlife. Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 5:30 PM – 7:30.
Monday, December 21, is the first day of winter and the shortest day of 2020 in the Northern hemisphere. Parts of Canada, Alaska, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Greenland, and the northern tip of Iceland will experience 24 hours of total darkness.
Winter could be a long, dark, and difficult time for many of our forebears. The solstice provided an opportunity to celebrate the return of more daylight.
How did ancient people celebrate?
Gift-giving
The ancient Romans exchanged candles and other gifts during Saturnalia, their week-long solstice celebration.
Role-switching
In Persia, the king changed places with one of his subjects on the winter solstice, and the subject was crowned during an elaborate street party.
In Rome, masters and servants switched roles; senators wore simple, rather than elaborate togas; men sometimes dressed as women; fights and grudges were forgotten; and other everyday conventions were put aside.
Candle-lighting
In England and Scandinavia, people lit a Yule log, or oak branch, which was often replaced by a large candle that burned throughout the day.
Bonfires
Japanese Shinto farmers lit fires on the mountain sides to welcome back the sun.
Mistletoe and Evergreen Trees
The British Celts put mistletoe on their altars. And the Germans and Romans decorated their houses with evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as a symbol of life and renewed fertility.
Sun Festivals
The Hopi celebrated the return of the sun with ceremonies. Priests dressed in animal skins with feathers in their head-dresses to look like the rays of the sun.
Why celebrate the first day of winter?
The holiday season is busy enough for most of us. Why add anything else to the to-do list?
Celebrating the first day of each season offers the perfect opportunity to:
- Note the cyclical changes in the soil, sky, trees, plants, and wildlife.
- Reflect on the lessons each time of year imparts. Winter reminds us of the importance of quiet, rest, and dormancy.
- Learn about different celebrations around the world.
- Celebrate! Seasonal celebrations are affordable, nature-based, and as easy or elaborate as you want them to be.
- Be grateful for the gifts of food, family, and friendship.
The key to celebrating the first day of winter, when most of us are busy planning other celebrations, is to keep it simple, and choose traditions that give you time to relax and reflect.
Simple (and free) ways to celebrate winter
- Observe
Watch the sunrise and sunset. You probably won’t even have to set an alarm. At our house, it will rise at 7:44 and set at 4:37 on Friday. (The good news is longer, brighter days are coming.) You can find out what time the sun will rise and set where you live here.
- Wander
Take a hike, go cross-country skiing, or go for a walk and look for signs of the season. Listen to winter’s music. Compare winter’s textures: dry bark, soggy leaves, spongy moss. Notice winter’s distinctive scents.
- Give
Find gifts for each other from nature. Exchange small handmade gifts. Make maple caramel corn for friends or neighbors. The key is to keep it simple.
- Feast
Serve up your favorite winter crops: beets, winter squash, potatoes, onions, kale, cabbage, or parsnips. We’re fans of stuffed squash and homemade sauerkraut this time of the year. Lighting candles can turn an ordinary meal into a celebration.
- Reflect
Spend some time relaxing together in front of the fire. Share one thing you’ve lost and one thing you’ve gained over the past year. Tell stories about your best and worst holiday memories. Make wishes for the coming year. Reflect on the lessons of winter: the importance of rest, dormancy, and stillness.
The key to seasonal celebrations is to make them simple and relaxing. The last thing most of us need is another stressful winter tradition.
What’s your favorite thing about winter? Leave me a comment. I’d love to hear about it!
(Editor’s note: This is an updated version of a post originally published December 14, 2009)
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Winter: some people really love it, and some of us… well… don’t.
As a kid, I was enamored by the snow and took every opportunity to enjoy winter. Sledding! Snow forts! Snow days!
Nowadays, I count the minutes until the snow melts and the days get longer. And as much as I don’t want to admit it, I count down those days with a frown.
I’ve always been able to appreciate the beauty of the season, but I’ve never appreciated the cold. I have spent entire winters dreaming of green grass and warm sunshine. But that seems like a waste. Then I got to thinking: if I can appreciate the beauty of winter, there surely must be other things I can appreciate, too. So this year, I made the decision to embrace winter in different ways. And if you’re someone who also doesn’t care for winter, try experimenting with these simple concepts:
1. Hygge
Hygge (pronounced “heu-gah”) is a Danish word that’s not easily translated into English. This is because it’s a concept – it is about being as opposed to having. Its connotation is warmth and a deeper connection to family and community. So this winter, instead of “hibernating,” so to speak, I’m going to embrace the warmth of good friends and simple pleasures. A mug of hot cocoa, the warmth of a fire, the smile of a loved one.
2. Be more like Oscar
Meet Oscar, he’s the loveable pooch of Badger Emily who works in our customer service department. A few years ago, we had an ice storm in New Hampshire that knocked out power for weeks. A week before Christmas. Fun times.
Although I’m sure Oscar wasn’t thrilled that his house was cold, or that he had to walk on ice with his bare paws, he found a silver lining: ice covered grass makes for a great back scratch.
Realistically, I don’t ever see myself scratching my back on ice-covered grass (or ice-covered anything for that matter), but I like the lesson here. Embrace the silver lining. Look for the simple pleasures.
Be more like Oscar.
3. Get outside and do something
Whether it’s walking, snowshoeing (probably not), cross country skiing (maybe?) or skating (yeah right, two left feet), I’m going to get outside more. Most likely it will be the occasional walk, or perhaps some sledding. But either way, I’m going to layer up, get some fresh air, and enjoy the beauty that winter brings:
And you can always stay inside and write some poetry! Here’s a winter haiku I wrote a couple of years ago:
O watering can!
You hold the promise of spring
While still filled with ice.
How do you celebrate winter? Share your tips in the comments below!
Luminary Loppet A Celebration Of Winter In Minnesota
Jentri Jollimore has been with Badger's marketing department since 2008, and active in the natural products industry for more than 10 years. When she's not handling PR and Social Media for Badger, she enjoys playing guitar, composing songs, and writing scores for short films. Jentri's Favorite Badger products: Damascus Rose Face Oil, Beard Oil, Seabuckthorn Beauty Balm, and Badger Balm.