Winter Solstice by Rebecca

This is Rebecca.  Happy Winter Solstice, for those of us in the northern hemisphere.  While our southern counterparts are enjoying their longest daylights of their year, we are experiencing the shortest daylight of 2011. 

But it's a celebration, because it just gets lighter from here!  So take advantage of whatever light you can find today and celebrate the return of light:

--Take an outdoor picture.  Check out http://weather.thefuntimesguide.com/2006/01/winter_pictures.php for some good basic winter photography tips. And I found this site http://photo.net/learn/point-and-shoot-tips with some really good general photography tips for those of us with point-and-shoot, basic digital or film cameras.  I sometimes wish I had a fancy camera and the skills to use it; This article made me realize that I could just get better with what I've got!

--If you're doing a December Daily/Journal Your Christmas type project, think about using Winter Solstice as your theme today.  Some journaling prompts: How does the short daylight time impact you and your mood? What is it like to go to work in the dark and come home in the dark and not get to see daylight? What do you look forward to with the return of more daylight?  This blog post http://womensmemoirs.com/memoir-writing-prompts/memoir-writing-prompt-winter-solstice-and-more/ provides a good journaling prompt idea, to focus on a turning point in your life.  It's a good day to feel a little gratitude!

--Read about the origins of winter solstice and Yule celebrations. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/wintersolstice.shtml Even if you're not Wiccan or Pagan, see if you can find any of your own traditions in the historic roots and celebrations of Winter Solstice/Yule! http://www.circlesanctuary.org/pholidays/SolsticeArticle.html

--Light a candle or a fireplace to usher in the return of light. Or, for a more delicious rake on that symbolism, make a Yule log cake (Buche de Noel)! I collected several pictures/recipes on a Pinterest board here: http://pinterest.com/rebecca_delo/bouche-de-noel/

--And for less calories, try a yule log craft, like http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/11/toilet_paper_tube_yule_log.html or http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/yule-log-favor-boxes

Hope you are enjoying the daily posts here on the blog.  We're coming close to the end, and this is my final post for the month, so Merry Yule, Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! 

See you in 2012!

Rebecca