December Solstice-A-Long Day 2: Honor the Sun!

12/21: Good Day! And Welcome to Day 2! 

(Sorry for the delay...I had a laptop meltdown...)

Today we honor the Sun.  Those in the Southern hemisphere will begin at sunrise, those in the North begin at Sunset.  Add a solar figure to the altar.  Also, in honor of Earrach of Pittsburg, we can “break the stick” at the exact moment of Solstice, which is at 11:19 pm, EST (check local times).   

VIGIL   **If you are unable to vigil during the day for any reason, perhaps a toast or prayer at Sunrise, Noon, and Sunset can achieve the same recognition of the longest day for you.  Or Sunset, Midnight, and Sunrise*** 

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. During the vigil we toast a deity every hour. Choice of beverage is up to you, so be smart and don’t use alcohol at work or before driving. 

Here is where the “druidy energy circumnavigating the globe” really comes into play!  The Southern Hemisphere starts at Sunrise on 12/21 and goes on through Sunset on 12/21, and the Northern Hemisphere starts at Sundown on 12/21, and ends at Sunrise on 12/22, a full twenty-four hours of Druidy goodness! 

As your biannual safety reminder, do not leave candles/fires unattended. That includes sleeping.  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. 

[Special shout out to Anna Gail Sowell for the vigil format and to Jan, Drake, and Jason for the Greek, Roman, and Baltic suggestions.  Please send me suggestions for other pantheons!] 

In the south, greet the Sun in the east, and light your vigil candle, and then follow the vigil throughout the day, bidding good night to the Sun at Sunset.  Then the northern hemisphere picks it up at Sundown.  Extinguish all but the most necessary of lights, light the vigil candle at sunset (outside facing west) to bring the sun in, announcing Sunna, Grianne (or whomever) has entered the hall.  

Time	Norse	Celtic (Irish)	Greek	Roman	Baltic
Transition (check local time 5:09pm)	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: 7:50 EST)	Sunna	Grianne/Aine1	Helios	Sol	Saule

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

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.”