It's been two years since the last Winter Solstice celebration and this one was very windy and rainy, but, still, more than sixty people came together to share food, company, singing and yet another bonfire (though only about twenty people came outside into the tempest to stand around the fire).

The drums and other instruments stayed inside (though the bagpiper played under a distant porch and one (of two) basoonist(s) joined me in several pennywhistle duets at the fire).


The Fire Starts

( More pictures behind the cut )

About 50 to 60 folks gathered to celebrate the Winter Solstice on December 21st. After much good food and drink, we went outside to a bonfire (built by one of my sons and me - all three of us have a genetic predisposition towards pyrotheology) and witnessed yet another turning of the Celestial Wheel. After my son lit the fire (only one match, of course), everyone warmed themselves with good company, song, music, blue Celtic warpaint and general carrying on (along with tossing of various objects into the fire).

In the heart of the fire was the maypole that was last woven at the 2004 Summer Solstice celebration. This maypole was originally the top half of the the first (May, 2003) New London Earth Day maypole. It was subsequently reused at two large group campouts and one wedding.

( ... more Winter Solstice pictures )