When my husband and I met (over 10 years ago now), we both expressed our desire to create our own traditions and rituals to celebrate living in rhythm with the Earth's seasons. Traditionally these festivals are celebrated by Pagans and other Earth-based spiritualists. I can't say that I belong to any such formal religious group, yet I see value and wisdom in them all--from Christianity to Buddhism to Paganism. Instead, I choose to remain unaffiliated but create holiday traditions that fit with our family's unique blend of beliefs.
In the next few posts, I'll share with you some of the ways we celebrate the birth of the Sun, rather than the birth of the Son. We do, however, very much respect everyone's personal faith and spiritual belief systems. I share our traditions so that others who hold a more agnostic world view can have something to reference or jump-off from. I know I've very much wished for more people to share their personal family traditions to cultivate more ideas and continue carving out a new path for our family. I do hope you find it useful and inspiring to help you create meaning and tradition in your own family - no matter what your spiritual beliefs may be.
I'll start by sharing with you our version of Advent.
Winter Solstice usually falls on December 21st each year - the longest day of the year. We count back four Sundays from this date and begin our countdown from there. This year we began Advent the Sunday after Thanksgiving - synchronous with Christian Advent.
On this day, we put up and decorate our holiday tree, create a new seasonal altar on our mantle, and build a new Advent wreath. All this while listening to A Charlie Brown Christmas or our Pandora Jazz Holiday Channel. I do love Christmas music!
This year we decided to keep our Advent wreath simple. Since we're now in a small townhouse, we have limited space to work with. So I bought a package of 100% pure beeswax Hanukkah candles and created the little Advent wreath you see below. This hurricane candle holder sits on our coffee table year round and at each season I change out the contents. I removed our decorative gourdes from Autumn and replaced them with a simple red berry wreath, 5 Advent candles--four candles surrounding a center candle.
With the lighting of our first advent candle (the candle closest to the East) we recite the following verses:
The first light of Advent is the light of stones. Stones that live in crystals, seashells and bones. (from the Waldorf tradition)
Spirit of the East, spirit of air, of morning and springtime:
Be with us as the sun rises, in times of beginning, times of planting.
Inspire us with the fresh breath of courage as we go forth into new adventures. (from the Unitarian Universalist tradition)
On the second Sunday of Advent we light the southern-most candle (in addition to the first candle) and recite these verses:
The second light of Advent is the light of plants. Roots, stem, leaf, flower and fruit by whom we live and grow. (from the Waldorf tradition)
Spirit of the South, spirit of fire, of noontime and
summer: Be with us through the heat of the day and help us to be ever
growing. Warm us with strength and energy for the work that awaits us. (Unitarian Universalist)
On the third Sunday of Advent we relight the first two candles plus the candle on the West and say:
The third light of advent is the light of beasts. Animals of farm, field, forest, air and sea. All await the birth in the greatest and in the least. (from the Waldorf tradition)
Spirit of the West, spirit of water, of evening and autumn:
Be with us as the sun sets and help us to enjoy a rich harvest. Flow through us with a cooling, healing quietness and
bring us peace. (from the Unitarian Universalist tradition)
On the fourth Sunday, we relight the previous three candles plus the northern-most candle and say:
The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind. The light of love, the light of thought, to give and to understand. (Waldorf)
Spirit of the North, spirit of earth, of nighttime and
winter: Be with us in the darkness, in the time of gestation. Ground us
in the wisdom of the changing seasons as we celebrate the spiraling journey
of our lives. (UU)
The fifth (center) candle is reserved for the night of the actual Winter Solstice (I'll go into that ritual in a later post). On each Sunday before Solstice we light our candles, say our verses, and exchange one very small gift (usually handmade). We may even spontaneously break out into a holiday song or two!
Stay tuned for more Solstice Celebration ideas! May your season be Merry & Bright...