The Shortest Day

The shortest day flew by yesterday with many preparations for our solstice party. Our preparations were accompanied by a massive snowstorm so the girls alternated between sledding with ski goggles and cooking.


We made invitations....I haven't had glitter in the house in a long time. Now I remember why--it got everywhere!

By mid-day we realized that our party was going to be just the neighbors as everyone was snowed in. We couldn't even get out to deliver the invitations!

We made star and moon cookies.

Hels made a buche de noel decorated with marzipan stars. We pulled out the Solstice Berries to accompany it.


Our neighbors braved the storm....well....one family did. We had an evening of visiting, sledding in candlelight, dark chocolate with summer berries, and candles.


The girls set lanterns up and down the sled run and went sledding in the dark. It was so nasty outside that the adults declined to join them this year. Here's a photo of all the lanterns after they had finished.


The highlight of the evening was the yule log which is an idea I got from the Crafty Crow. In the past we've done this activity out at a bonfire but not this year! We each had a long strip of paper where we could write down one wish for the turning of the year or one thing we wanted to cast away.

The girls then decorated a log with greens, dried orange peels and cinnamon sticks. I had wanted to use a big birch log, but they were buried in snow. They tied on the scrolls of paper and we put it in the fire. By having the leftover greens from the Christmas tree tied to the log, there was a very satisfying pop and crackle in the fire.


We revel in darkness and light at this time of year. The spiral is moving more and more inward. May we all find a special light inside. Happy Solstice.


For more ideas about games and activities involving fire and light--check out this post--we alternate these activities for New Years Eve and Twelfth Night.