The Winter Solstice is a pagan festival that has been celebrated world wide, and in some places since the Stone Age.  This year it falls on Sunday, December 21st, 2025. Of all the days of the year,  it has the shortest amount of daylight, and the longest amount of darknesss! The solstice is associated with the festival of Yule, a fire festival, featuring a huge log of oak, often burned for days. Saturnalia, another mid-December celebration, is a Roman festival honoring the agricultural god Saturn, and is still celebrated by some. It honors the promise of a spring harvest. Evergreens, valued because of their association with protection and immortality, are featured in all of these celebrations.

Note: Those living in the southern hemisphere will be celebrating the Summer Solstice. Please see my blog on the Summer Solstice for ideas to celebrate!

Honoring nature, the return of longer days, and the celebration of increased sun and light, encompasses values all cultures and beliefs can embrace! Our reverence for nature forms a bond of unity and highlights our similarities.  All religions, cultures and ethnicities can join together in this celebration!

Make a note of the time the sun rises and sets. Mark it in your calendar. If you’re feeling dedicated, you can check and record the change in time daily, or you can just jot down the times of the sunrise and sunset every Sunday, or the first day of every month. Being aware of the length of the days and nights keeps us in touch with the cycles of nature. 

Since it is the end of the year, why not think about your accomplishments? Begin with the experiences and memories that make you grateful. Have you reconnected with friends from the past? Have you taken courses and learned new skills? Have you made new friends and traveled to places you’d like to revisit? Include set backs and challenges, and give yourself credit for your resiliency and progress. Have you supported others who have gone through difficult times? We should all have a running list of ways to include self care in the coming year. 
What are your goals for the coming year? What are the things that give you satisfaction that you’d like to continue to do? Is there anything you would do differently? What are you ready to completely release? The position of the moon and planets at the time of the winter solstice are ideal for letting go.  Are there things you need to release? You might want to put past frustrations aside, release the need to control, or let go of lingering grievances. It’s a perfect time to move on to things that will bring you peace of mind. 
Having these thoughts sketched out will be a wonderful start as you consider possibilities for your new year! 

You are a vessel, filled with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that you have gathered that make you completely different from any one else! Do you know what they are? We are constantly learning and growing, and it’s easy to forget all of the things that make us special and unique.  Take some time between now and the new year to play!

Gather your supplies! You’ll need a huge piece of paper so you’ll have a lot of room to play! You’ll need your favorite drawing utensils in colors you love! Bring crayons, markers, pens and paints! 

Draw an outline with your vessel. It might be a silhouette of your shape, or it could be a circle, a  heart, your brain, or something completely unexpected and abstract. Regardless of your age, I think you will be surprised as what you have learned - and forgotten that you have learned - over the years. 
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Begin to fill your vessel with your talents, interests, skills, passions, beliefs, courses you’ve taken, books you’ve read, lessons you’ve learned, etc. Some of you will make neat, numbered lists. Others will have drawings and letters in different colors and sizes, diagonally and randomly through out your vessel. You can’t do this incorrectly! It’s about you, and YOU are the authority so create vessel that represents you. 

The important thing is to have fun! It can be a work in progress and you can continue to fill it as you grow and add new KSAs! 

​ (Just in case you aren’t aware, this is an excellent example of marketing!)
Use this information to make 2026 the best year you’ve ever had!

Evergreens - If you haven’t already made one, create a simple evergreen swag to hang on your door . Gather branches of pine or fir as the base, add holly, ivy, juniper and mistletoe. secure with a heavy rubber band and decorate with ribbons. Place branches of pine, spruce or cedar on your window sills. Evergreens provide protection and their ability to remain green and alive in the dark days of winter gave them magical associations. Cedar branches were gathered to help those experiencing grief from suffering a loss.
Rosemary - Rosemary is the herb associated with friendship and remembrance. It stimulates the brain and encourages pleasant memories of loved ones. 
Chamomile - Chamomile tea is ideal for relieving stress and promoting a good night’s sleep. 
Lavender - A tea made of lavender will create a feeling of calm and promote healing. Epson salt baths with lavender and especially therapeutic this time of year. This will be especially delightful when you come in from stargazing (see # 7 below).

Do you have an enormous oak Yule Log handy? I don’t. But I can find a place to watch the sun rise and/or sunset. Do you have a fireplace or fire pit? How about a wood or pellet stove? Light tea candles! Fire and light can be hypnotic, and gazing at them can allow our minds to rest. Seek, appreciate and celebrate the light!

Consider turning off all the lights in your house as darkness approaches, dress warmly, take a blanket outside, light a fire if you have an area where that is permissible, and watch the sunset. Do some stargazing and then turn in early for the night! 

Poisonous

Gender: Masculine
Element: Air
Planet: Sun

All my life ,I’ve heard that if you were caught, and kissed, under the mistletoe, you’d fall in love, even if you didn’t like the person at all before the kiss. From that time forward, you would love each other eternally. Let me know if it worked for you! It hasn’t been my experience, thankfully! I think it sounds a bit like a curse!
Are you familiar with the original legend of mistletoe? There is no reference to a romantic association. 
In the Norse version of mistletoe’s symbolism, Balder, the God of light and peace, was adored by his mother Frigg. He was said to be the most handsome of the gods, and was knowledgeable in the use of herbs and runes. She loved him dearly, and in order to protect him, she cast a spell that he could never be injured by any of the elements: water, air, fire or earth.  
Loki, known as the trickster god, was jealous of Balder, and was determined to destroy him. He made an arrow of mistletoe, as it was not from any of the four elements, and gave it to Hodur who was blind. As Hodur was playing with the arrow, Loki steered his arm to aim at Balder, killing him instantly.
Frigg, who had never cried in her life, was heart sick and wept constantly. Her tears became the white berries on the mistletoe. She couldn’t be consoled, and finally, the gods couldn’t bear her sadness any longer so they used their powers to give Balder back his life.
Frigg was overjoyed and declared mistletoe a symbol of peace. It was to be hung high, and a kiss of maternal love or friendship was to be exchanged by all who passed beneath it.
The only reference to a romantic kiss under mistletoe appeared in a poem in the late 1700s. The new reference gained popularity and replaced the original association.

Plants that remain green and vibrant in the bitter cold winter months, when all of the surrounding plant life is dormant, have always fascinated people. The Pinaceae family, which includes cedar, fir, pine and spruce, was hung on doors to protect families long before it was considered decorative. The plants were thought to have magical powers, and symbolized endurance and eternal life. The evergreens replaced the black chicken that had previously been used for protection.

At one time, in many different cultures, black chickens were revered for their powers of protection. In some areas, witches, feared all year long and not just at Halloween, were honor bound to count every feather before they entered a home.  They usually lost count, gave up, and found an unprotected home to enter. But there were disadvantages of using a hen. Even in the chill of winter, the chicken began to exude unpleasant odors, and wild animals were lured in, making the home owners uncomfortable. 

Fortunately, the idea of the magical evergreens, with their calming colors and numerous needles, caught on, and hanging evergreen branches on doors for the witches to count replaced the "poulet noir"! Other evergreens, such as holly, ivy, juniper, and mistletoe were added for their symbolism, as well as decorative berries in red, blue and white, and gorgeous variations in leaf shapes and shades of green. 

My first evergreen post will highlight the fir. It is estimated that there are about fifty species of fir in the world, including balsam, Fraser, and white. The Santa Lucia, or bristlecone fir, is thought to be the rarest tree in North America, and possibly the world! They are known for lifting their branches high and their cones are at the top of the tree. The fir’s needles  are soft, flat, and singularly attached. Their needles stay attached longer than spruces or pines. This is one of the reasons they are considered the ideal Christmas tree. There are more. 

When Christianity arrived in northern Europe, and the legend of the Christmas tree became known, three angels, Faith, Hope and Charity were sent from the heavens to find the perfect tree!
The perfect tree was to be as 

• Great as Faith
• High as Hope 
• Sweet as Charity, and it was required to
• have a cross on every bough. 

The search ended when they found the fir tree!
They lighted it with stars and it became the first Christmas Tree!

The Irish are credited with bringing Halloween celebrations to the United States when they immigrated following the Potato Famine between 1845 and 1852. People began dressing in costumes and going door to door asking for treats, but the first candy corn didn’t appear until the 1880s.

Have you ever wondered what sweets and treats were like before Hershey’s chocolate bars and kisses showed up in the early 1900s? My daughter Mycala took me on a field trip to True Treats in Frederick, MD where we had a chance to find out! Sadly, the store is no longer there, but when I returned  I did a two page spread in my illustrated journal while nibbling on the sampling of delights we purchased. 
My descriptions aren’t complete recipes but they’ll give you ideas and you will probably be able to find more information on line. 

Please leave a comment if you try any of these historic treats. I found some to be delicious and others left me craving a peanut butter cup. You decide!

Aww, come on now!  You didn’t really think witches were scouring the forest to gather the eye of a newt or the toe of a frog, did you? I’ll admit, there was a time when I used to guard my dog in case the witches needed an extra dog tongue. Fortunately, I found out about the secret herbal codes!

Folk names were used for herbs long before Shakespeare came along It was a bit like the copyright protections we have today.  “Witches” were actually healers who were protecting their recipes and secret ingredients from those who had no  understanding of nature, plants, and their magical powers. Secret code names were created to protect the identity of the ingredients, as well as  give mystery to the herbal  cures. Many plants are still called by their folk names today!

Some names can be determined by the part of the plant associated with particular body part: for example, seeds were associated with eyes.  If Shakespeare had said mustard seed instead of “eye of newt”, a certain mystery would have been lacking. The toe of a frog was a leaf of cinquefoil, holly leaves were the wool of the bat, and hound's tongue was the tongue of the dog. Thankfully!

Even though his descriptions were visually stirring, they were not appreciated by the herbal healers of  the  time. His using their code names made them furious  and they  put a curse  on not only Shakespeare, but  anyone  who  dared  use the word ‘Macbeth’. Uttering the word in a theater is considered bad luck, to this day. Even witches who have dedicated their lives to healing can become enraged and vengeful if their secrets are exposed!  Hopefully,  I won’t  regret writing this article.   I  think I’ll  go gather some agrimony, for protection, just  in case!

COMMENTS
ALICE SCHLOTHAUER ( [email protected] )

For 15 years I lived at the corner of Blymire Hollow Road and Shangrila Road. In that part of York County the story of Mr. Blymire and Mr. Rehmeyer and the Hex Murders in 1928 was told and retold. This time of the year, we would sit on our front porch and watch the hayrides come up Blymire Hollow Road with loads of very frightened people aboard. A book called Hex was written about the incident and you can read all about it on the internet. It is full of hexery and witchcraft. Pretty fascinating!

Plan to make several wreaths to share with friends!

Are you thinking of spring? Many of us are!

​Imbolc falls on February 1st and 2nd this year. It is a word derived from the old Irish Gaelic, means "in the belly”, and specifically refers to ewes, pregnant with lambs. In a larger context, it symbolizes Mother Earth being pregnant with the promise of spring. It is about half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. 
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Originally a pagan holiday, Imbolc later became known as St. Brigid’s Day, the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, and the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. It is also known as Candlemas Day, the day people take their candles to church to be blessed. 

Then, February 2, 2024, we will celebrate Groundhog Day, also associated with the arrival of spring, and historically associated with Imbolc, The event began as Badger Day in Germany and traveled across the ocean to eventually become affiliated with groundhogs.

THE FIRST MENTION OF THE GROUNDHOG DAY CELEBRATION

​A journal entry from February 2, 1840 by a  Welsh-American storekeeper in Pennsylvania is the earliest mention of the celebration, according to Don Yoder, author of Groundhog Day. ​

Groundhogs in the United States and Canada are also known as ground squirrels, whistle pigs, land beavers, marmots and woodchucks. European ground hogs are called hoary marmots. Hedgehogs, in addition to badgers,  were also credited with weather predictions in Europe. 

Punxsutawney Phil, acclaimed as the Weather Prophet, is the most famous of all of the groundhogs. This much maligned, innocent fellow is annually yanked out of his burrow by a rowdy crew wearing top hats who have been drinking heavily all night. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter, and if not, only two. If spring doesn’t arrive early, he alone is blamed. For many reasons, my heart goes out to Phil. 

Rosmarinus officinalis
​“Dew of the Sea"

Gender: Masculine
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire

Smelling  rosemary  prevents aging,” I explained to my class of 25 students, as I handed each of them an eight to 10 inch sprigs from my garden. All were over 50 years old in the Renaissance Institute lifelong learning program.  “It will also keep you alert and help you remember the information you learn in class.” It was my first session in a series, over a period of 6  weeks, of my Enhancing Your Life with Herbs, and rosemary was the ideal herb to introduce the course. 
Rosemary’s well documented and legendary gift of preventing aging is one of the virtues I wish I had found out years ago - maybe when I was eighteen! Since I’ve learned of this magical power, I breathe in deeply  when the plant is nearby.  
Many virtues have been associated with rosemary throughout the centuries. He is one of 500 herbs featured in Eber’s Papyrus, found in the Valley of Tombs near Luxor. The 20 meter long scroll, about the  size of a bowling alley, was written in 1500 B.C., though believed to have been copied from an earlier document. It documents its use as an herbal remedy. Sprigs have been found in Egyptian tombs dated from 3,000 B.C. 
Its medicinal uses have been documented in Greece and Rome since 500 B.C. The “herb of crowns”  is also reputed to improve memory and mental powers. 
Priests burned it as incense and it has been used as a disinfectant and strewing herb. The pungent fragrances covers up unpleasant odors and purifies the air. It has been credited with protecting people from the plague and having a clean fragrance that is purifying in a sick person’s room. Once valued for medicinal uses, it is now mostly used in cosmetics and cooking. 
Friendship and love have long been associated with rosemary. It has been used in love spells and is credited with encouraging faithfulness, so it is often used in friendship and wedding bouquets. Both Sir Thomas More and Shakespeare have commemorated rosemary’s association with friendship and remembrance in well known quotes.  
Rosemary  is often found at with funerals. My rosemary sympathy cards and comfort journals for people who have lost loved ones encourage people to find easement in sacred memories.