Solstice

That's it, the shortest day of the year is today. From here on in it is going to get lighter.

I am positive of that, I don't need to sacrifice anything/one to any god to ask for the sun back (although it sometimes feels like it wouldn't be a bad idea). In this day and age, filled with the new temples we all worship in at this time of year (mine is the temple of Ocean Terminal, and Chavda) we can forget that it has always been a time of festivities. Before our new gods came along we worshipped some freedom fighter that the Romans hung off of a bit of wood for his troubles. We said it was to celebrate his birth, even though he was probably born sometime in the spring (no flocks on the hills in winter, ask a farmer, and definitely no sleeping on the hills for the shepherds).

No, like most if not all of the Christian festivals it was to replace another festival. Like Easter and Beltaine, or Halloween and Samhain. In this case the midwinter one, or Saturnalia the Roman feast which has many of the Christmas hoohaha's - gift giving and the like.

So, I went to my local temple of retail. And took this shot of SJ and the mill. Happy Solstice everyone!