The beauty of the Winter Solstice is that the longest night of the year is followed by longer days. The 2011 Winter Solstice will be on December 22nd at 5:30 am. It will be the shortest day of 2011 followed by the longest night. We have seen the darkness slowly grow and creep into our lives every day since the Summer Solstice, and it is good to put it to an end. Each day will get a little bit longer, a welcome trend.
We, the Keepers of the Creek, the True Hard Core Creekers (THCCs), the Last Celebrators of the Seasonal Markers, make it a tradition to document and make festive the age old science of the seasonal changes. Honestly, it gives us a reason to party, and we never let a reason to party go unused. Indianaland is the perfect place to celebrate these changes, because it actually changes. What if we were in Florida? What changes? What about Arizona? We have four distinct seasons, they are all different in nature, each one having its personality. Winter starts in a week or two, and there is no doubt what comes to Indiana in Winter: Cold, ice, snow, short days, and some serious honkering down. Spring brings green things and life, a mix of cool and warm days and nights. Summer is long hot days and cool nights, lots of greenery, and skimpy clothes. Autumn brings cooler air, green turns into beautiful colors, and the fresh air is welcome to our lungs.
We are blessed to see the changes and enjoy the differences between the seasons. That is why we celebrate the changing of seasons at the Creek. Sure, it’s a reason to get together and party, but it is recognition of change, we had that, now we are into something different. The obvious difference between seasons is wonderful, change is the cure for boredom, and the Creek is never boring.
Because Christmas and the Solstice is basically the same weekend, we decided to move Christmas to the 17th, tell all your families about the change, because we will celebrate the Solstice on December 24th. Santa has signed on to this and will launch his sleigh on the 17th, making all the children of the world happy on December 18. Wait. There might be a simpler solution…….. I know. We will celebrate Solstice on the 17th, and leave Christmas Eve and Christmas on the 24th and 25th. You know they were celebrating the Solstice many years before Christmas came along, but now is not the time to confuse all the children who have waited patiently for December 25th.
So. It is done. The 2011 Winter Solstice Celebration will be at Laughery Creek on Saturday, December 17. We will provide the entrée (Angy and I are bringing Chili, Zugs and Sner will marvel you with a stunning staple), please bring a plate or dessert to please the average grazer. As always, I will cook ominous omelets for breakfast. We make sure the Winter Solstice is properly introduced with excellent food and drink, the Druids would have it no other way.
Maybe it is the busy schedules of Creekers, but it always seems that we have more visitors at the Summer Solstice than we do at the Winter Solstice. Nevertheless, we would like to see you at the Creek this weekend, the weather seems to be favorable and the good times are guaranteed. Do the daytrip or spend the night and eat breakfast with us, we are excited about the Winter Solstice and the longer days that follow.
Here is the coolest part of Winter Solstice. I know that a lot of people are not like me and don’t truly appreciate the beauty of Winter: Snow, ice, sledding, four wheeling, ice fishing, hiking, and more. The coolest part is how close we are to Spring. Summer was over a long time ago, we have seen dreary days and lots of cloudy/rainy days and nights all through Autumn. But March 1st is just 72 days away. Start the countdown, March 1st is not that far off. March 1st is the start of good things to follow, the occasional warm day, a little greenery, and soon Spring. When we get to March, it’s no looking back, we might see a snow or two, but they are short lived and 50 degrees the next day. So even the most pessimistic of you have to feel good about making the turn towards March. It will be here soon.
This weekend we celebrate the end of short days and loner nights. We tip our glass and toast the 182 day journey to the longest day. Put on your longjohns, your favorite hoody and gloves and come to the Creek for our Winter Solstice Party. The big fire will keep you warm on the outside, you bring the perfect drink to warm your innerds. Laugh and enjoy good friends, good times, good food, and great reverence to the changing of the Seasons. We are ready for Winter. Mother Nature: Bring it on!!!! See you at the Creek.
