Up All Night: A Technopagan Solstice Celebration 2017 (10th Anniversary Edition)

[PerditaPickle]

I forgot to note the exact moment of solstice

I was at home within nothing I had to do and I forgot to note it exactly - but at least I was browsing TC instead of just random webbrowsing

[Waldhexe]

Waldhexe for the win, with the first report of the northern world's spreading darkness! Thanks, Waldhexe

You're welcome!

I'm already back. It's nearly 9 pm now and very dark without stars (cloudy). It doesn't rain, but it is wet everywhere and the temperatures are very mild.

 We managed to make a fire, it didn't burn long because we didn't have that much wood - originally we had planned to drive to a larger solstice event, but it was cancelled due to unstable weather conditions, so this was rather unprepared - but we had a beautiful little fire and some "Glühwein" (can't look up the English word on the phone).

We all have to get up early tomorrow - some have to go to work. I'm on vacation already, but I'll have to take the train early tomorrow morning because I meet with friends in Cologne. One of my witch friends wants to show us a statue of Saint Brighid.

[Horizons]

It's the 10th anniversary of our solstice party, that's what this thread is!

I remembered my account on these forums as I was flailing around for ideas about what to do for the Solstice tonight, so I guess I might as well re-introduce myself on this thread and start getting to know you all. I live with my mother and husband who are polytheists also and will celebrate with me later, but it's neat to read about others' enthusiasm and plans. I've always loved the Winter Solstice both because it usually signifies the setting in of deep winter here in Pennsylvania (I love cold) and for its symbolism with the chthonic Deities.

It's been a very sunny day here, but now the sun is starting into what looks like it will be a colorful sunset. Only another 30 minutes or so until the long night starts. Which means I really should be cleaning my study so it's respectful to my oracle and Deity cards when I get them out...

[SunflowerP]

... and some "Glühwein" (can't look up the English word on the phone).

<pokes the 'net>

That appears to be, in English, mulled wine.

Non-theme relevance: ooh, an international culinary terms subconvo. Very TC-traditional, though not (necessarily) for UAN.

Sunflower

[Altair]

I remembered my account on these forums as I was flailing around for ideas about what to do for the Solstice tonight, so I guess I might as well re-introduce myself on this thread and start getting to know you all.

Welcome to the party, Horizons!

Here in NYC, the darkness has just fallen, the Night of Nights begun. The all-night-long black candle is lit, and the commencement of festivities signaled by the blasting at full volume of my traditional December solstice kickoff music.

The plan now is to clean up a bit, because after I dash to a participatory bell-ringing march starting in my neighborhood park, and then race over to another park where amateur astronomers are setting up telescopes for stargazing, I have to be back here to a reasonably neat apartment to welcome fellow Cauldronite TheGreenWizard, who's going to be here with me live for the Great Global Group Meditation at 9 Eastern. And then we're going out to a (hopefully!) raucous bar to have a drink. Maybe at the bar I'll even get lucky... (solstice sex!)

[Chatelaine]

And by now Essex, England, had gone dark! Enjoy The Last Jedi, Chatelaine; I want to hear your opinion when you get back (mine is here).

I was certainly not surprised, as I never avoided spoilers. I found it visually stunning, the porgs were adorable and Luke was every bit the badass boss I expected to the bitter end. I cried in places, but I'm already looking forward to Ep. IX for Grumpy Force Ghost Luke and Kylo Ren getting curbstomped as he deserves. It's certainly flawed - I wasn't happy with Leia's final scenes or Finn's screen time - but they all are anyway.

tl;dr - I loved it, haters gonna hate.

I'm having mulled-wine tea, and a mulled-wine-scented candle. Anything, that is, but mulled wine itself.

[Darkhawk]

Here in NYC, the darkness has just fallen, the Night of Nights begun. The all-night-long black candle is lit, and the commencement of festivities signaled by the blasting at full volume of my traditional December solstice kickoff music.

Past dark here north of Boston, I'm working on making some hot and sour soup for dinner in the hopes of clearing this chest cold.  My plan for the evening is 'take a quick nap after I've got dinner done because I wasn't able to sleep in this morning' and then get up to put Younger to bed and see how far I last.

[Horizons]

Welcome to the party, Horizons!

Here in NYC, the darkness has just fallen, the Night of Nights begun. The all-night-long black candle is lit, and the commencement of festivities signaled by the blasting at full volume of my traditional December solstice kickoff music.

Thanks! And wow, your plans for the Solstice sound like a whole lot of fun. Sadly my husband works tonight, so no special plans or Solstice sex for me, lol. But at least I was able to decide what I want to do for our Solstice ritual, and am going to be capitalizing on the 'new beginnings' energy of the holiday to start a new habit of spiritual practice, since I've been very negligent with that for the past year.

[Noctua]

Thanks! And wow, your plans for the Solstice sound like a whole lot of fun. Sadly my husband works tonight, so no special plans or Solstice sex for me, lol. But at least I was able to decide what I want to do for our Solstice ritual, and am going to be capitalizing on the 'new beginnings' energy of the holiday to start a new habit of spiritual practice, since I've been very negligent with that for the past year.

Glaedelig Jul everyone, as my Grandfather would say. Sun set not too long ago here. I'm just killing a few minutes time before we leave for the Yule celebration my local Pagan meetup group is putting together. I'd planned on leaving about 15 minutes ago but my husband made us late, as usual.

[HarpingHawke]

Glaedelig Jul everyone, as my Grandfather would say. Sun set not too long ago here. I'm just killing a few minutes time before we leave for the Yule celebration my local Pagan meetup group is putting together. I'd planned on leaving about 15 minutes ago but my husband made us late, as usual.

Calling sunset! So excited for this holiday!!

[RandallS]

Calling sunset! So excited for this holiday!!

Sun set here about 55 minutes ago. We got lots of clouds, so it is now quite dark. Of course, our house -- and several around us -- are light up with holiday lights.

[Altair]

The plan now is to clean up a bit, because after I dash to a participatory bell-ringing march starting in my neighborhood park

I wish you guys could see or better yet hear this! A crescent moon, an evergreen swathed in white lights, and the sounds of a hundred bells. Magical!

[PerditaPickle]

I wish you guys could see or better yet hear this! A crescent moon, an evergreen swathed in white lights, and the sounds of a hundred bells. Magical!

It does sound it 

[SunflowerP]

Calgary, AB  4:31 PM/8:37 AM

The sun has set in Calgary! It's heavily overcast and snowing a bit, so the main way I can tell it with my own eyes is that the outdoor light level has a subtly different quality.

Sunflower

[SunflowerP]

Calgary, AB  4:31 PM/8:37 AM

Also, looks to me like that was this morning's sunrise time. Sunrise Sunset says the sun will come up here at 0838 tomorrow morning.

Sunflower