Countdown to Up All Night! (December 20-21)

[Altair]

Hi, everybody,

For those who are not aware, we at The Cauldron have a tradition of an all-night virtual party/vigil for the December solstice: Up All Night (UAN). Some of us go the distance and stay up from dusk till dawn, others pop in and out as their sleep allows, but everyone has a great time!

This year the party begins at your local sunset on Sunday, December 20th, and ends at your local sunrise on Monday, December 21st. I think this year UAN is especially important, since the whole world is on a greater or lesser extent of lockdown, and this tradition of ours is one of the few things that transcends all the social distancing limitations.

So my first question, for all those participating--and I hope that's everyone!--is: Where in the world are you?

Be as specific or general as you deem appropriate. I'd love to get a sense beforehand of how scattered across the globe we are (the further, the better!), plus it will allow me to pull sunset/sunrise times in advance of UAN, to post for everyone's edification.

[Altair]

Where in the world are you?

Answering my own question: While normally I'd be in Manhattan, in the heart of New York City, USA, this year I'll be UAN-ing from Palm Springs, California. I'll be one of you West Coasters for this one!

ALSO:

For those who are unfamiliar with UAN, here's more info (modified from last year's info):

Every year for over a decade now, we here at The Cauldron have had an online party on the December solstice (winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, summer solstice in the southern). "Up All Night" is a once-a-year, come-one-come-all, truly global all-night event that is open to any Cauldron member...and of course, since Cauldron membership is free and easy, that means anybody can participate, once they become a member!

What does it involve? Here's some of what typically transpires during the night:

--A special dedicated thread in this forum, where folks can touch base, share their experiences, and write just about any damn thing (within forum guidelines, of course), from recipes that keep them fed through the night, to music for the solstice, photos of the sunset where they are...you name it.

We choose a non-theme every year--a very loose idea that folks can hang posts on, or completely ignore (hence the "non" part). This year's non-theme is "Seeing the Joy in Small Things."

--Chat! And lots of it. It's typically the best chat night of the year, because so many people are on simultaneously. So if you haven't discovered our Discord board, don't wait until UAN to try it--do a test run now in the weeks running up to UAN, so you're familiar with it beforehand.

--The Great Global Group Meditation: Cauldronites from around the world "gather" in a Zoom meeting for a nondenominational, professionally guided meditation session. Feel the calming connection crisscross the planet...but don't fall asleep!

That's just some of what's in store. Ideas welcome!

[Jenett]

So my first question, for all those participating--and I hope that's everyone!--is: Where in the world are you?

Looking forward to this as always!

I'm a hair north of Boston, Massachusetts.

(I have started the habit of spinning yarn for ritual use starting on the Solstice and going through to New Year's Day, and I am particularly excited about the roving I got for this year, in the Phoenix Rising colourway. I also maybe have a new spindle.

[Aisling]

So my first question, for all those participating--and I hope that's everyone!--is: Where in the world are you?

So ready for this!  I'll be joining the party from the Land of Sky (aka western North Carolina). 

[SunflowerP]

So my first question, for all those participating--and I hope that's everyone!--is: Where in the world are you?

Calgary, AB, Canada, as usual.

Sunflower

[Sophia C]

So my first question, for all those participating--and I hope that's everyone!--is: Where in the world are you?

Ah, yay for UAN! A bright spot in my year (is that irony?) I’ll only manage the evening this time, as health hasn’t been great and work doesn’t stop (I think I’ll only get the 25th and the 1st off this year), but I look forward to poking into chat from London, UK.

[PerditaPickle]

I’ll only manage the evening this time, as health hasn’t been great

This may well be true for me as well this year, though I usually like to make it through to the meditation - we'll see.

I look forward to poking into chat from London, UK.

And I'm south-west of there a ways.

[Chatelaine]

And I'm south-west of there a ways.

While I'm veering off northeast, smack into chav country.

I've never managed to stay up all night, and this year will be no different, as I'll be working in the morning. I may or may not make it to midnight. The UK contingent will have the run of the house early on, it seems!

[Altair]

While I'm veering off northeast, smack into chav country.

I've never managed to stay up all night, and this year will be no different, as I'll be working in the morning. I may or may not make it to midnight. The UK contingent will have the run of the house early on, it seems!

OK, so judging by the responses so far in this thread, we've at least got our night watch starting from the UK continuing through the North American west coast.

(One of these days, I swear, I'm going to do UAN from darkest distant north--Iceland!)

[Sefiru]

OK, so judging by the responses so far in this thread, we've at least got our night watch starting from the UK continuing through the North American west coast.

(One of these days, I swear, I'm going to do UAN from darkest distant north--Iceland!)

It's a work night for me, so no all-nighter for me, though you can be sure I'll check in!

[Morag]

So my first question, for all those participating--and I hope that's everyone!--is: Where in the world are you?

Well, I'm still on the West Coast, but a bit further north this year -- I'm in Powell River, BC, where the sun will set at 4:18 pm on the 20th and rise at 8:13 am on the 21st.

Also I was stupid and took a 9 to 5 shift on the 20th because I got the dates mixed up. So if I can't find someone to switch with me I'll be doing UAN from 6am on the 20th to 8:13 am on the 21st. Pray for me.

[Altair]

Well, I'm still on the West Coast, but a bit further north this year -- I'm in Powell River, BC, where the sun will set at 4:18 pm on the 20th and rise at 8:13 am on the 21st.

Also I was stupid and took a 9 to 5 shift on the 20th because I got the dates mixed up. So if I can't find someone to switch with me I'll be doing UAN from 6am on the 20th to 8:13 am on the 21st. Pray for me.

Oh no! I assume you mean 9 PM to 5 AM, an overnight shift. But whatever hours you end up working, we'll be happy to have you for whenever we can get you, Morag.

[Morag]

Oh no! I assume you mean 9 PM to 5 AM, an overnight shift. But whatever hours you end up working, we'll be happy to have you for whenever we can get you, Morag.

Haha, nope! 9 am to 5 pm on the 20th, and then up all night till dawn on the 21st.

I have, in the past, stayed up for longer than 26 hours. I am not sure I am still young enough to succeed at it, but by gods I will attempt it.

[SunflowerP]

Haha, nope! 9 am to 5 pm on the 20th, and then up all night till dawn on the 21st.

I have, in the past, stayed up for longer than 26 hours. I am not sure I am still young enough to succeed at it, but by gods I will attempt it.

I will, as I usually do, stick around until the sun rises on you, to help keep you awake for that last while.

[ETA: I checked, and that's still only about half an hour later than my sunrise, so not too onerous.]

Sunflower

[Wanderer894]

Hi, everybody,

For those who are not aware, we at The Cauldron have a tradition of an all-night virtual party/vigil for the December solstice: Up All Night (UAN). Some of us go the distance and stay up from dusk till dawn, others pop in and out as their sleep allows, but everyone has a great time!

This year the party begins at your local sunset on Sunday, December 20th, and ends at your local sunrise on Monday, December 21st. I think this year UAN is especially important, since the whole world is on a greater or lesser extent of lockdown, and this tradition of ours is one of the few things that transcends all the social distancing limitations.

So my first question, for all those participating--and I hope that's everyone!--is: Where in the world are you?

Be as specific or general as you deem appropriate. I'd love to get a sense beforehand of how scattered across the globe we are (the further, the better!), plus it will allow me to pull sunset/sunrise times in advance of UAN, to post for everyone's edification.

I'll be at home in The Nutmeg State on the USA's east coast. Looking forward to doing an all-nighter once again before cracking open a jar of homemade eggnog to welcome the sun back! Someday I really want to do UAN from Ireland or Norway, just because.