Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Christmas Countdown

Whew, I don't know about anyone else but I am tired. We are working later hours at work, so between that and shopping and life in general I am ready for a day off. That will come tomorrow, but I have to finish up my shopping. I don't dare wait any longer even though I also lucked out and have the weekend off. You couldn't pay me enough to get near a store this weekend. I have to work Christmas Eve for part of the day but I can live with that because I get off around four. Our family does the tree on Christmas Eve at my moms house so that everyone can be in there own homes when Santa comes. This year I will be going early to my daughters to see my grandson open his presents from Santa. I'm looking forward to that.

Yule or Winter Solstice is coming up on the 22. As most of you know I celebrate that day and I wanted to share a legend of Yule with you.



According to legend, the snowflake was formed from the tears that Demeter cried after Persephone’s descent into the Underworld. The microscopic flakes have six sides, and since six is the numerological digit associated with affection, the snowflake was used by Pagans as a winter symbol of love.

My Aunt (who was not Pagan) use to crochet a snowflake for me every year and put it in a card. I have several of them hanging on my tree now. They are a wonderful way of remembering her and the season.

Speaking of remembering the 22nd is also a sad day for me. It will mark three years since I lost my dad. He died that day. Christmas will never be the same without him.


OH by the way Have you noticed an intense red star rising in the east in recent evenings? That's no star, that's Mars. The red planet is having a close encounter with Earth this week. At closest approach on Tuesday evening, Dec. 18th, the two worlds will lie only 55 million miles apart. Mars won't be this nearby again until the year 2016. To the naked eye, Mars now outshines every star in the night sky (it is slightly brighter than Sirius) and it looks great through a backyard telescope. Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos, observing tips and sky maps.

Well that has about caught everyone up on what has been happening here. Just one more week until Christmas Day. Do you think we will all survive?

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5 Comments:

Blogger peppylady (Dora) said...

Sound like a wonderful Holiday celebration with family.

I like the story on the snow flakes.

December 18, 2007 at 3:53 PM  
Blogger *~*Cece*~* said...

I think I'm going to be searching for snowflake ornaments after Christmas. Thanks.

December 18, 2007 at 6:41 PM  
Blogger Carrie said...

I love that tradition your aunt started!

Happy Yule!

December 19, 2007 at 12:43 PM  
Blogger Gledwood said...

That's a v nice story...

I don't really believe in Xmas. Not as a Christian festival anyway. Everyone knows it has precious little to do with the birth of Christ and yet they drag all that religious crap into it every year. Why not just say it's a pagan festival and excuse to drink a lot, stuff oneself with food and have some great blazing family rows! That is the truth of it!!!

Have a good one on 22nd!

;->...

December 20, 2007 at 6:03 PM  
Blogger Granny said...

A belated Happy Yule to you and best wishes for the New Year (at least I'm not late on that one).

December 22, 2007 at 8:19 PM  

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