December Notebook - The Candlelight Issue

Winter starlight, Solstice rituals and long winter naps

Hello!

Welcome to December.

After the sleepy quiet of the last month, December has a very different energy doesn’t it? It’s a month of lights, activities, parties and sparkly Midwinter celebrations.

But while some of you will be embracing every moment of festive fun, others might be feeling a little wary of it. After all, this focus on Midwinter celebrations can feel a bit overwhelming at a time when the natural world is in deep hibernation, and energy levels are low.

So in this newsletter, as well as embracing all the light and energy of ancient Midwinter rituals, we will we will also celebrate the peaceful natural magic of December and all the opportunities it offers us to rest and recover.

We’ll be looking up at dark skies studded with winter stars, walking through woodlands cloaked with scarlet berries and returning to homes spiced with the scent of winter evergreens. Who’s ready?

Photo by Diliara Garifullina on Unsplash

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Things to love about December

1. Winter starlight

Winter is the best time of year for stargazing. Nights are longer and the air is clearer than in the Summer months. Winter also offers some of the most dramatic meteor showers of the year. The best times to see the stars are the days around each new moon when the sky is darkest. (Interested in Lunar Living? Take a look at this post.)

This year the new moon falls on Tuesday 12th December and the Geminid meteor shower will peak on 14-15 December.

2. The smell of evergreens indoors

‘Bringing the outside in’ gets really literal in December when for a few weeks, it is totally normal and acceptable to drag an entire tree indoors and stand it in the corner of in your living room. But the best thing about bringing a real tree indoors is, of course, that delicious spicy, earthy, pine-y ‘Christmas’ smell it brings with it.

I can still remember the excitement of waking up early in December when I was little and running along the hallway to open the living room door and get the first hit of Christmas tree smell in the morning. In fact I still do that! It’s a uniquely December-y smell that’s both comforting and nostalgic.

3. Quiet rituals

Christmas Day means noise and excitement, but often the real magic of Christmas lies in the quiet moments throughout December, where the anticipation builds and little glints of Midwinter magic shine though.

Making mince pies on a quiet Sunday afternoon, listening to carols on a dark December morning, watching a Christmas movie on a random Tuesday evening... these tiny moments all string together to create a magical month without any of the big expectations and high emotions that often come with Christmas Day.

In fact, to me, these are not just the moments building up to Christmas, they are Christmas.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

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Things to do in December

Feeling suitably December-y yet? I hope so. Right, here’s your list of things to do, see and eat this month:

1. Decorate an outdoor tree

While we’re used to the idea of bringing a tree indoors, historically people would decorate outdoor evergreen trees as part of their Midwinter celebrations, in a bid to encourage the spirit of the trees to return after the winter.

I love this idea so I’ll be decorating an outdoor tree this year, as well as having an indoor tree (I can’t kick that indoor tree habit just yet, see my point about the Christmas tree smell above). I’m going to make edible decorations that, hopefully, the local wildlife will appreciate. I’m thinking pinecone bird feeders, apple slices and popcorn strings. If anyone has tried this before and has some ideas, let me know!

2. Light a candle

From ancient Solstice fires to candlelight carol services, it’s long been traditional to fill this dark month with light. Making a point of lighting candles for evening meals or on dark mornings can make this time of year feel magical. If you like the idea of holding your own Midwinter fire ritual I’ll be sharing more ideas in my Winter Solstice newsletter later this month, so make sure you’ve subscribed to get your free copy.

3. Go for a woodland walk

There’s something deeply peaceful about walking in woods or near trees at this time of the year. They offer a moment of quiet and rest amid all the festive business and there’s a timelessness about being outside in nature. And, if you’re lucky, you might spot some winter wildlife too.

Frosty days and bright winter sunlight are the best combination, so as soon as you get a day like that, get outside immediately! If you’re in the UK you can search for a local woodland to visit here.

Photo by Anthony on Unsplash

4. Bake something spiced

December is a high point in the baking year. There are so many traditional things to make, from Gingerbread to Yule logs, Christmas cakes to mince pies. You could bake all month long if you fancy it. I intend to. Here are a few classic Midwinter baking recipes to help fill your home with the deeply comforting and cosy scent of Christmas.

• Classic Gingerbread

• Spiced Christmas Biscuits

• Easy Mince Pies

• Christmas Brownies

• Yule log

5. Celebrate the Solstice

Friday the 22nd December is the Winter Solstice, a magical day that has been celebrated since ancient times. It marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year; after this point the balance will start to shift in favour of the sun again, as the days start to lengthen and the light gradually returns.

For ideas on how to celebrate it, from fire festivals to ice lanterns and nature rituals, keep an eye out for my Winter Solstice newsletter in a couple of weeks time.

6. Take a Long Winter’s Nap

It can seem counterintuitive in the season of Christmas parties, shopping and celebrating, but in the natural world this is a season of rest and hibernation, so don’t fight it if you feel the need to settle down early in the evenings. Be inspired by the most Christmassy of poems and take a long winter’s nap whenever you get the opportunity this month.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

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December Folklore

With the dark half of the year well underway, December is filled with weatherlore looking ahead to the new year, as well as a host of Midwinter Solstice superstitions and traditions.

Here are a few pieces for you to squirrel away, ready to impress, surprise or completely baffle someone at the appropriate moment.

1. Predict the year ahead on Christmas Day

• Sun through the apple trees on Christmas day,
  Means a fine crop is on the way.

• The weather on each of the twelve days of Christmas predicts the weather for each month in the coming year.

2. Collect Mistletoe by the light of the waxing moon

If you want to bring evergreens into your home this month, there are some Folklore rules to consider, as evergreen plants have long been considered magical and sacred. And the lore around Mistletoe is the trickiest of them all.

According to ancient Celtic tradition, Mistletoe should be harvested on the sixth day of the moon and it should be cut from the tree with a golden sickle and caught before it touches the ground to ensure its magical powers remain intact. Here’s a visual representation.

3. Ask the tree’s permission before you cut Holly

Holly trees are widely considered to be magical and it’s considered very bad luck to cut one down. However, branches and cuttings from a Holly Tree are considered to be good luck charms when brought into the home.

To balance this contradiction, if you want to take a cutting of Holly at Midwinter, folklore says you should ask permission from the tree first, and make sure to leave an offering afterwards.

Photo by Simon Lohmann on Unsplash

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Ok, that’s all for now, I hope you enjoyed your December newsletter and I hope you have a wonderful month filled with candlelight, winter stars and quiet moments of peace.

I’ll see you next month for a January edition of the Monthly Notebook. We’ll be diving into hibernation rituals, warming spiced drinks and Orchard Wassails. I’ll add a sprinkling of weird and wonderful folklore for you too. Look forward to seeing you there. If you haven’t already Subscribed then just click below to make sure that post arrives safely in your inbox.

Vicky xx

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