How will you celebrate the cold and snow this year?  For us, we made our first ice carousel!  Here in the North, if the ice on the lakes gets to be between 6 and 12″ thick, one can cut out a large circle, and get it spinning!  It was fun – we tried sails, but ended up using a combination of pushing and drill paddles to get it going at a steady speed.

Celebrations

The Winter Thermstice is the time of the deepest cold (on average).  Despite the cold, life exists, hidden beneath the snow.   Gathering strength, yet hidden in many ways.  How long and harsh will this winter be?  Can traditions of groundhogs or candles tell us?  I recently saw a Pagan’s personalized Wheel of the Year, and they had Imbolc labelled as “Brightening“, opposite the sacred holiday of “Dimming”.  I think these are great names – though the change does start at the Solstices, it’s later that the change begins to be noticeable.  These and many other themes join with the making of candles and wintertime celebrations.

Some of the ways many of us are celebrating were published a few weeks ago, and I’m in the process of getting both the candle making supplies and ritual materials ready.  My kids (and I!) are looking forward to making snow cream for Imbolc as well.   However you are celebrating (including Summmer Thermstice/Lammas celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere), may your be celebration be blessed.