Today is the winter solstice. We will have the longest night of the year, the longest period of darkness. And this year that darkness is particularly deep and daunting as the death toll from COVID-19 rises around the world and as the economic and social impacts of the pandemic take a dark toll on people and families and communities.
I think the perfect song to mark this day is The Solstice Carol by the Winnipeg group The Wyrd Sisters. The lyrics of The Solstice Carol remind us that during the longest night of the year we are to comfort one another, think about our blessings, remember to dance and share what we have with others. That is the true spirit of the solstice and it will get us through to the spring when there will once again be more light than darkness.
A fire is burning
The long night draws near
All who need comfort
Are welcome by here
We’ll dance ‘neath the stars
And toast the past year
For the spirit of solstice
Is still living here
We’ll count all our blessings
While the Mother lays down
With snow as her blanket
Covering the ground
Thanks to the Mother
For the life that she brings
She’ll waken to warm us
Again in the spring
The poor and the hungry
The sick and the lost
These are our children
No matter the cost
Come by the fire
The harvest to share
For the spirit of solstice
Is still living here
Comfort one another, think about your blessings, remember to dance, and share what you have. A mantra to get us through perhaps one of the darkest winter solstices we have ever experienced.
Unfortunately, The Solstice Carol was only released on a cassette tape and there is no way to get a hard copy or even download it now. Believe me, I have tried. But someone has put a copy of the song on YouTube so you can hear it there.
There is also an interesting version of the song by Winnipeg Group Antiphony. It was arranged by Scott Reimer and can be heard here.
Other posts…….