Solstice-A-Long, Day 1

***These are copies of postings to our ADF folks, of a home devotional system one can do on the Twelve Days of Yule.  There are ideas for both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. I'll try to keep up with this throughout, but as it is a busy season for everyone, I may have to double up!***

Good Day! And Welcome to Day 1! 

On Day 1, we ritually move from mundane to sacred time.  The evening before the December solstice was traditionally Mother’s night, (Mōdraniht) to honor the female ancestors (the disir), and also Holda, who was connected with both winter and with women’s activities, such as spinning.  Holda may be related to Diana, Aradia, Perchta, Hecate, Artio, the Matronae, and Epona.  The time of Yule was a time to set aside spinning and other activities, so if you sew, crochet, knit, or whatever, place these things aside.  Our modern society often pauses during this time of year; maybe it’s a leftover?   Even in Summer, a time of vacations, we set aside normal household activities. 

In the north, place a female figure in white on altar to represent her, and also representatives of your disir.  In the south, you can place a more seasonally appropriate figure, but the presence of a disir representation belongs, no matter the season.

As we light the candle for the Disir, we will also remember those parents who have lost children this year (or ever).

VIGIL 

**If you are unable to vigil for any reason, perhaps a toast or prayer at Sundown, Midnight and Sunrise can achieve the same recognition of the longest night for you.*** 

Since the Solstice occurs tomorrow, those in the north one could begin their Solstice Eve vigil at Sundown. Vigils are popular, but since many of us have to work the next day, they are often not practical.  Some of our grove mates followed along with us at their hearth, and the night of the vigil we toasted a deity on every hour.  

Here is where the “druidy energy circumnavigating the globe” really comes into play!  While the Northern Hemisphere starts at Sundown on 12/20, and ends at Sunrise on 12/21, the Southern Hemisphere starts at Sunrise on 12/21 and goes on through Sunset on 12/21.  A full twenty-four hours of Druidy goodness! 

This past June, I was actually traveling during Solstice Day, but set my alarm on my phone and at each hour, said a prayer to the deity of the hour. It worked out way better than I anticipated.   

As your annual safety reminder, do not leave candles/fires unattended. Sleeping is unattended!  If you can’t make it, use an LED candle. These are pretty easy to carry with you during the day, too! 

(I’ve used my local time [EST] as a guide in this, but just ignore if that doesn’t mesh with your time zone, and add or subtract hours as is necessary.) 

Starting in the North… 

At Sunset (12/20): – extinguish all but the most necessary of lights, light vigil candle at sunset (outside facing west) to bring the sun in, announcing Sunna (or whomever) has entered the hall.  

Sunrise: greet Sunna (or whomever) in the east with the candle, extinguishing it.

In the south, as the northern hemisphere is done, you pick it up with greeting the Sun in the east, and the following the vigil throughout the day, bidding good night to the Sun at Sunset. 

[Special shout out to Anna Gail Sowell for the vigil format and to Jan, Drake, and Jason for the Greek, Roman, and Baltic suggestions.] 

Time	Norse	Celtic (Irish)	Greek	Roman	Baltic
Transition (check local time 5:33pm)	Sunna	Aine/Grainne	Helios	Sol	Saule
Hour 1 Earth mother (6pm)	Nerthus	Danu	Gaea	Tellus	Zhemyna
Hour 2 Gate keeper (7pm)	Heimdall	Manannan Mac Lir	Hekate	Janus
Hour 3 Fates (8pm)	Norns	Matrona	Moirae	Nona	Laume
Hour 4 Hearth (9pm)	Frigga	Bridhe	Hestia	Vesta	Gabija
Hour 5 Communication (10pm)	Odin	Lugh	Hermes	Mercurious
Hour 6 love/war (11pm)	Freya	Morrighan	Aphrodite	Marias/Venus
Hour 7 cold/heat (12pm)	Skadhi	Cailleach	Persephone
Hour 8 Moon (1am)	Mani	Elatha (or just the Moon)	Selene	Diana	Menulis
Hour 9 healing (2am)	Eir	Airmid	Apollo	Apollo
hour 10 Underworld (3am)	Hel	Don	Hades	Dis Pater	Velnia
Hour 11 war/justice (4am)	Tyr	Nuada	Dike	Justicia	Perkunas
Hour 12 Thunder (5am)	Thor	Dagda Mor	Zeus	Jupiter	Perkunas
Hour 13  grain/ vegetation (6am)	Freyr	Crom Cruach	Demeter	Ops	Patrimpas
Hour 14 Youth (7am)	Idunna	Angus mac Og	Eos	Aurora	Ausrine
Transition (check local time: 7:04 EST)	Sunna	Grianne/Aine1	Helios	Sol	Saule

Here’s what I say, and you’re welcome to use it, but you can obviously also do your own prayer. 

 “As the clock strikes [state time], and the longest night/day draws on, I raise this toast to [state who and what is so awesome about them], in gratitude for the season that has past, and with hope for the blessings of the season yet to come.” 

1 There is some lore that Aine is the midsummer sun and Grianne is the midwinter sun.  You can either have them change places at solstice, or maybe switch at the equinoxes.