#winter tradition

[leo-fie]

Next year in late November or early December cut a branch from a tree (cherry, apple, chestnut, rowan, birch, hazel, elder, forsythia, willow, etc) and keep it inside in a vase, so it will bloom and/or have leaves around christmas.

It's a tradition about St. Barbara in some parts of Europe. But I think it's such a nice little thing we shouldn't let the catholics and orthodox have it.

It's important that the branch already entered the winter rest period. If there was no frost in your part of the world, put the branch into the freezer for a day or two. You're making the branch think it's spring, it needs to think it's winter first.

Cut your branch at an angle and put it into room temperature water in a vase. The room should be not too dry. Now have patience. The buds need time to develop. Maybe spritz them with water a little so they don't dry up.

[barberwitch]

I Gave Lemons to my Coworkers

I started the morning saying happy solstice to my co workers and I had a few, in unison say “Happy Solstice Carlos!” They truly meant it and it nearly made me shed a tear.

They had made me in charge of the “Secret Santa” so I made it today…because Yule.

They wanted a potluck, so I made gingerbread, shortbread and brought cider.

Then, after lunch, I placed home grown lemons all over the office. On coffee cups, behind keyboards, in mail piles, in stockings they had for decoration. I made sure everyone had at least one lemon. Once I was done, one of my coworkers asked why I did it.

“Giving citrus on solstice is a tradition honoring the last year, struggles that were felt to actually survive winter in the past and citrus represents the sun, and welcoming spring! Every night after tonight, the days get longer and the nights shorter…

and now that everyone has accepted my lemons, they’re all filthy pagans just like me.”

Happy solstice everyone! If you accept citrus from a witch, you’re a witch now.

[stclements]

Too much to tag here @_@

[deweydecimalchickens]

I propose a new winter tradition: The Celebration of the Wren Who Did Nothing Wrong; God Forbid Women Do Anything; What a Girlboss.

From the Wikipedia page on Wren Day: "In the Isle of Man, the hunting of the wren (shelg yn drean) is associated with an ancient enchantress or 'queen of the fairies' (or goddess) named 'Tehi Tegi' which translates to something like 'beautiful gatherer' in Brythonic (the Manx spoke Brythonic before they switched to Gaelic). Tehi Tegi was so beautiful that all the men of the Island followed her around in hope of marrying her, and neglected their homes and fields. Tehi Tegi led her suitors to the river and then drowned them. She was confronted, but turned into a wren and escaped. She was banished from the Island but returns once a year, when she is hunted."

Sounds like a them problem to me. You mind your own business and do your job and don't harass the woman, you don't get drowned in the river.

[polandpics]

♡ | © laszielone, Roztocze, Poland

[biotchthatmeows]

So, they are making our traditional carrot pudding. It was our ritual. Our fucking winter ritual.

I used to peel those cold carrot and then shred them. Used to freeze my hands. They didn't even tell me they were make one.

Sure we'd argue about it and complain about it. But at the end it was our thing. We did it together. I wanted to add less sugar and you opting out for more, sometimes you'd insist on putting condensed milk. For the love of God you had diabetes. BTW guess what I am on boarder line diabetes Type. 2.

And you trying to scrape every last bit from the pot before I'd put it for wash.

Sometimes I used to made it before you come home, so we won't have our little bickering and you would not destroying the pot with the spoon.

Sometimes I did not even want to make it but you'd always force me to get it done. Our little winter thing. Granted mother washed the pot but rest was on me and your comments of how I am doing things wrong.

And then that smile on your face when you'd take a first bite. Made it all worth it.

They are doing their own thing. I am not allowed to say anything. I did but I was quite down.. Because of you know. Mother brought the bowl for me. They are hating it. I sort of want to eat it and not eat it. I don't know what to do?

[thenatureoferika]

Currently re-reading the wolves of mercy falls series because its winter 2/3 complete All the feels