Member-only story
I Propose a Solstice Fortnight
A useful holiday for the northern hemisphere
For me, the new year begins on the winter solstice. The darkest day of the year is also literally the rebirth of the world, a first step toward the return to light and hope.
For many centuries, northern cultures have a holiday around the solstice to mark the turn of the season. In Scandinavian cultures they have the revels — a celebration of song and dance to drive the dark away and rekindle the spark of life.
Last week I shared my misgivings about Christmas (which Medium’s algorithm has already buried out of sight). I now propose as an alternative to the two Christmases a solstice holiday, and not just a single day or night but a true period of reset and restoration: the Solstice Fortnight.
Dead of Night in the Afternoon
Look, it’s frelling dark and pretty damn cold this time of year. Being born and raised in Minnesota, I supposedly should be into winter sports and activities. I’m not. Warmth. I like warmth. Not that I don’t enjoy a good blizzard once or twice a year, but as bracing as a meter or two of new snow is, the rest of the winter I’d just as soon be a happily warm and dry spectator indoors.
