Seasonal celebrations.

[TeeDee]

Just wondering if anyone celebrates or makes a point of celebrating any other part of the year ? ( Ignoring individual specific things like Birthdays and such like )

We seem to make such a big thing of celebrating Christmas and New Year but I wonder if a little more of a nod to celebrating the seasonal shifts would make the year more enjoyable?

I'm sure I will get advised by a Pagan or such like but does anyone actually put effort into celebrating and pulling the stops out for any other part of the year with food,drink, time in contemplation etc ?

Seems a year can sometimes pass so fast but equally feel sooooooo long.

 

[Pattree]

Weeeeeeeeeell, I don’t know how many folk here are religious. What about Easter - overpriced eggs Simnel cake complete with marzipan apostles.

Halloween?

Some here may see Thanksgiving as even more significant than Christmas.

Christmas is very big at our house. We are just starting to put it away today but it will take a couple of days.
I am not religious but we do have a big family gathering at the Easter holidays complete with egg hunt.

I also celebrate four times a year as we take our annual trip around the sun. I enjoy the between times so:
February
May
August
October

For me unlike the sun stations (solstices and equinoxes), the fire festivals are not on specific dates but when nature is ready. Very relaxed but very definitely celebrations.

Just check out Moonpig or Hallmark if you want to see how many celebrations you can cram into a year!

If you have a (much) more academic interest try “Stations of the Sun” by Ronald Hutton. It’s very dense. I’ve had it years and can’t get through it. Perhaps if I ever do I’ll have a celebration.

 

[Toddy]

I just follow the year around

I change the things around my house and garden, my clothing, jewellery, etc., too. What I cook. What smells I want around.

I have friends round on days/evenings like the Solstices, I look forward to them, prep for them. Occasionally visit friends instead.

I think I try to find joy in the changing seasons. The quarter days and the solstices and equinoxes make so much more sense than many other celebrations. They don't need to be hard on the specific day for most of them, just sort of around that time, and it feels right.

Next up is Imbolc....that's that first hint of new green, it's the first lambs and calves, and thus the first milk.
It's when we really do see the skies brightening, the cold's not gone, it's still Wintery, but Spring really is on it's way.
Traditionally it was time to refresh the rushes, tidy up a bit, when folks pretty much all lived rural lives.
Not Spring cleaning, too cold and too early for that, just a good sort out. Days are stretching, we're waking up and taking notice again.
More variety in the green salad type stuff I can forage; nettles sprouting really well by then, and well, that's healthy soup, that kind of thing.
A good sauna would be fun around then


.

 

[Broch]

We tend to try and have a celebration meals on most equinox/solstices - we're even talking about switching our main winter celebration to Yule/21st December

Strangely, as a Welshman, we also celebrate Burn's - I love the pomp and ceremony, the piping in of the Haggis, the reading of poems, the toasts, the malts .... We can pretend we're also celebrating St Dwynwen's Day at the same time.

I usually make pancakes around 17th Feb, and we'll do something daft for Samhain.

 

[Tengu]

Im off to the Sign of the Angel this month with friends for Burns.

Unfortunatley Burns here is often lame; One pub (who shall remain nameless; most famed in Wiltshire if you must know) served up a level tablespoon of haggis.

And no piper.

(But pipers are scarce here)

The best Burns I have been to was at the Twynandale Inn in Perranporth, Cornwall. Now they had a big bash, and a piper...And, since I helped them with the decorations, they let me in for free.

But the Sign of the Angel is very good, Quite a bit of money but I must say it is value for money expensive, good AND plentiful food. Its a good venue too, built in the 1480s.

(not Wiltshires oldest pub which has had Bad Reviews...)

I love haggis; and a good Burns.

(One day I hope to be in Fair Alba for Burns Night...)

 

[Pattree]

we're even talking about switching our main winter celebration to Yule/21st December

There are plenty who do exactly that.

I get the impression that it depends upon the expectations of family and friends.

I would love to be at Castle Rigg for the Winter Solstice but our visit is always a week or so prior to the longest night.

 

[Broch]

I'm celebrating the Summer Solstice on Shetland

 

[Herman30]

I don´t celebrate anything, not birthdays, not christmas. Nothing. But sometimes other people force me to.

 

[HillBill]

Just wondering if anyone celebrates or makes a point of celebrating any other part of the year ? ( Ignoring individual specific things like Birthdays and such like )

We seem to make such a big thing of celebrating Christmas and New Year but I wonder if a little more of a nod to celebrating the seasonal shifts would make the year more enjoyable?

I'm sure I will get advised by a Pagan or such like but does anyone actually put effort into celebrating and pulling the stops out for any other part of the year with food,drink, time in contemplation etc ?

Seems a year can sometimes pass so fast but equally feel sooooooo long.

Supermarkets, Retailers, purveyors of goods celebrate Xmas or festive periods far more than consumers or children do.

It was never thus. Xmas is a time for giving.... but now its a time for buying, then giving what was bought.

Not a fan of the current model. Not a fan of demanding kids, demanding economic structures, nor demanding in general. It can all get to ****. AS a society in general, we need to get back to the point where people were grateful for what they got, rather than sulking for what they didn't.

 

[Pattree]

I am so sorry that you have had such a negative experience of the celebration that has brought so much joy to me and my family.

As stated above in response to the OP, we treat Easter in much the same way, enjoying each others company and sharing a feast.

Without wishing to sound pompous, I celebrate every awakening (being well aware of the alternative) but a few get more emphasis.

 

[HillBill]

Thats my point though Pat. It 'should be' about celebrating with family, friends and enjoying the period. Its just that all of a sudden, everything becomes expensive... there's a drive in marketing for you to spend more... i totally agree with what you say, and if you read my response as in agreeing with your comment... i'd hope you'd see that too.

There are elements in our society wich take advantage of that for financial gain. And its that, that i dislike.

Xmas isnt an easy period for me personally. I have my reasons and i wont burden you with them. But its not about me. Its about kids, its about making something magical for those who will one day have to foot the bill. And i dont like the price as it is now, never mind then. Nothing selfish in my reasoning mate. 30 years ago, vs today, vs 30 years from now?... That is a question i ask myself...

 

[Broch]

For me, the big point about all these celebrations, is the feasting and that doesn't need to be expensive to be fun. The most enjoyable part is when we (the family, the kids, friends) are around the table - chatting, toasting, laughing - or around the fire pit outside. And, if it's done right and they're included not ignored, I can see the pleasure the little ones get out of it too.

 

[Chris]

For me, the big point about all these celebrations, is the feasting and that doesn't need to be expensive to be fun. The most enjoyable part is when we (the family, the kids, friends) are around the table - chatting, toasting, laughing - or around the fire pit outside. And, if it's done right and their included not ignored, I can see the pleasure the little ones get out of it too.

This was quite a cool video from Atomic Shrimp, amazing how cheap you can pick some decent food up for around Christmas time.