Yule

To see a Yule log indicates joyous and promising expectations for the coming year.

 http://www.controverscial.com/Yule.htm

Solstice means “Sun stands still in Winter”. Solstice celebration has been renewed and has become popular during my life time. Yule and Winter Solstice are one and the same. While Winter Solstice is now a tradition on December 21st, the burning of yule log on New Year's Eve is the same celebration. Both are celebrations of the old year ending and the new year beginning.

While living in New York City, I never missed a Winter Solstice celebration, even when it meant treking up to Connecticut to walk the labyrinth at one of the churches. I also enjoyed several years of Paul Winter in Concert at St. Johns Cathedral, too. Two years ago, a local church here in Crescent City had rented a labyrinth and the hall was full of people walking the labyrinth here. There has not been a "return engagment", however. As a side note, a colleague told the story recent of his walking the real labyrinth in Chartes Cathedral. When he got to the center, and began the return, he was informed that the correct procedure from the center is to go straight to the altar.

I went to a New Year's Eve party last year at Scruffy's Fish Camp. His New Years Eve parties have become a local tradition. I had heard about them for years, but, even though people urged me to just go, I did not feel it appropriate to do that. Scruffy plans these parties for the people - mainly retired couples -  who stay there during the winter months.  Well, last year I was invited, cooked a dish to add to the pot luck, and went. Even though there was great food, company, and awe provoking fireworks, the burning of the yule log, definitely was the highlight of the party. The log was huge and the fire was lit so the inside would burn and much attention was paid, somewhat like a vigil,  to keeping the inside burning while sustaining its upright position asthe outside burned from the bottom. Missed it this year, but did go over the next day for the New Year's Day party. Again, I brought a cooked dish to add tot he potluck, enjoyed meeting new people, and stared for along time at the remnants of the burning of the yule log. A misty rain had just stopped and the fire was a welcome warmth on a jacket-cold day in Florida.

In conclusion, I would say that being an old time Floridian, is to have created a new indigenous culture. This culture provides a sense of community - a sense of place and belonging - and is celebrated with its gatherings and the rituals within those gatherings. I feel privileged to have encountered this community of the new indigenous people, and to experience a sense of belonging when  we are gathered. A guy named Scruffy and "his woman", Melanie, make it happen here.

I have a feeling, also, that this is happening everywhere. People have been isolated, (or even sadder, are trapped in a kind of collective autism, with no way to communicate with anything or anyone new on the scene) are capturing meaning in rituals of yore and making community happen from the embers of the yule - a life once full.

I would love to know your experience of new community and its celebrations.