shánax dís

December 20, 2018 6:34 PM

A full moon and a meteor shower will happen on the winter solstice, 21 Dec, the longest night of the year .
posted by the man of twists and turns (17 comments total)

Sweet! Hopefully by the night tomorrow I'll have finished this paper- on the solstice to boot! That's a *good* omen... right?
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 7:15 PM on December 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Yeah, nah.
posted by pompomtom at 7:27 PM on December 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Solstice Santa, clad in green, clasps his round belly and chortles, "No! No! No!"...
posted by jim in austin at 8:14 PM on December 20, 2018 [2 favorites]

We also have the Christmas Boat parade in the local harbor, with fireworks over the local beach boardwalk, so tomorrow’s a good night all around.
posted by notyou at 10:08 PM on December 20, 2018

Ooh, a howlin' moon on the solstice! Better start practicin'!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:33 PM on December 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Maybe I'll turn out the lights and see if I can catch anything through the windows.
posted by redrawturtle at 10:44 PM on December 20, 2018

IT IS AS THE PROPHECY FORETOLD AT LAST

the destruction of humanity

i mean ideally
posted by poffin boffin at 12:16 AM on December 21, 2018 [8 favorites]

Is anyone naked and howling at the moon?

I'm not. I'm crashing at my friend's housesit after a really cool and touching solstice variety show full of weirdos and families doing music, dance or other arts. I have a cute little stove with great draft and a roaring fire and my backpackers pot/cup about to boil for cocoa and my long johns on and my own whole tiny cabin. The moon is out though and there's been a nice break in the windy and very rainy weather. And I've been seeing shooting stars all week.

And this is a nice break for my ears. I have been working on music all month. Last week was ambient show, and then I DJ tomorrow and next weekend and I'm just like WTF am I even doing?

For some calendars, it is the new lunar year. Let it be better than the last.
posted by loquacious at 12:17 AM on December 21, 2018 [4 favorites]

Every solstice and equinox I think I should be doing something to commemorate the day, but I don't. Any ideas for good solstice celebrations in the suburbs with small kids?
posted by lostburner at 2:18 AM on December 21, 2018

how much wicker do you have on hand
posted by poffin boffin at 3:30 AM on December 21, 2018 [14 favorites]

Rain and cloud cover will happen over my sky.

Any ideas for good solstice celebrations in the suburbs with small kids?

My wife suggested wild dancing in the woods around a pentangle, but I don't think she was serious.
posted by BWA at 5:58 AM on December 21, 2018

Any ideas for good solstice celebrations in the suburbs with small kids?

Well, my plan is to get together with the coven for our traditional Yule rite, in which we'll recognize the Great Mother giving (re-)birth to the Sun God. This involves lighting some candles in a little cauldron, which we then jump over singly and in pairs for good luck and blessings for the coming year. Afterwards we have a potluck and exchange little gifts designed "to delight the child within" (in honour of the child sun).
posted by heatherlogan at 6:17 AM on December 21, 2018 [3 favorites]

Rain and cloud cover will happen over my sky.

Yeah, I'm concerned about that as well, darn it.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:07 AM on December 21, 2018

With my son we get out crystals and light candles, sometimes we make a crystal grid which is a fun activity for kids to participate in. Sometimes we pull oracle cards and my son enjoys this activity. We talk about putting our intentions into a ritual or ceremony format to strengthen those intentions in our lives. If you have an interest in animist or polytheist traditions and want to share that with children solstice can be a good time to share with them aspects of religions that celebrate the solstice, and full moons can be a good time to talk about lunar deities and spirits around the world. Children often love storytelling and it might be a good opportunity to learn as a family.
posted by xarnop at 7:31 AM on December 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

Take that, Henry Miller!

I wish the stupid bowl of slate gray I live in would part for just a couple hours so I could see the sky. Veeeery tempted to catch one of those last-minute BWI - San Juan flights after work.

My wife suggested wild dancing in the woods around a pentangle, but I don't think she was serious.
Do you really want to take that chance?
posted by aspersioncast at 8:33 AM on December 21, 2018

My old schoolfriend and I stood in her front yard at sunset, taking a break from preparations for the huge party she's going to throw on Christmas Eve. We watched the pink glow at the horizon for a bit.

We asked the aid of the gods for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and then I said "May we all make it out of the darkness." And she said "May there be brighter days to come."

Sending that out on this longest night.
posted by Pallas Athena at 8:53 PM on December 21, 2018 [3 favorites]

I pulled an epic all nighter and was up to welcome both dawns. DJ night was on fire. Really good energy.
posted by loquacious at 4:33 PM on December 22, 2018