Happy Winter Solstice!

Today is the winter solstice. Known in many countries as Yule, this pre-Christian celebration marks the longest night of the year.

The ancients-- which is to say, not baby boomers, but rather, people from a really, really long time ago-- believed that on this night the veil between the living and spirit world was at its thinnest. Hence, the winter solstice is a time of honoring those who have passed, and meditation. A fire would be lit, and a single, very large log (with many different types of trees branches tied to it) would burn the whole night through, providing light in this, the darkest of times. People would stay up all night, watch the fire, maybe sacrifice a pig, drink some ale... a time of grand partying and chatting with the dead had by all.

For more information about this very splendid holiday, check out Wikipedia.