Where's My Pony?: The Longest Night

Today, well tonight actually, is the longest night of the year for those of us lucky enough to be dwelling south of the Equator, yes, the Winter Solstice.

Meán Geimhridh as the ancient Celts called it, Midwinter. In Australia the Calender Seasons and the actual seasons never actually match up so the Winter Solstice can't really be called Midwinter for us, it is at least the Longest Night.

I've grown up celebrating the Solstice every year, with my neighbours throwing a party on the Saturday directly after. It's one of my favourite times of year, with food and candle decorating, songs and stories and spiral that we all walk down, placing our candles, lighting the way for the sun to return to the world.

Now that I've moved a state away and am studying I don't get to go to the Solstice and it's such a shame, I miss it and the ceremony attached to it. I miss making a candle every year, and eating a variety of delicious vegetarian food. I miss being five and playing hide and seek upstairs while the warmth of the fire filled the house and the adults sang and chanted below us. I miss mucking around with the instruments. I miss hearing the story of Persephone even though I learnt it by heart. I miss the feeling the night gave me, a sense of wonder and content.

I miss running through the garden in the moonlight.

Adam and Alannah getting ready for the Solstice, 2009.

Jason and Kassie getting ready at my house, 2009.

So this year I have my own celebration. (Last year I had class until 9 PM) This year I burn incense and say a prayer, I listen to music I haven't heard in years, I light my lanterns and wear beads in my hair. This year I wear my long black crush velvet skirt that was my mothers during the day and have curly hair. This year I sneak outside at midnight in the chill of the night and say a prayer to the Moon and the Earth and the things that Be and I light a candle and write a poem.

This year I have my own party, with sparklers and marshmallows and fire twirling and jelly shots and Tribal costumes and all my best friends and we will laugh and dance and throw roast marshmallows at each other and paint our faces. And we won't forget the night for a long time to come.

A picture I copied from a photo I saw on Tumblr, using it as the poster for my Solstice/Tribal party.

I'll leave you with a couple more old photo's from the Solstice in 2009. (The last one I went to) it rained and everyone who stayed overnight was flooded in, which meant Kesselle was stuck at my house for a few days and I got time off school.