Shortest Day, Longest Night
Posted: 12/21/2011 Filed under: Motherhood, Nature, Photography, Reading 4 Comments »
Gray, rainy Winter Solstice
Happy Solstice, everyone! As I type, winter is stepping into our town’s parlor with a warm hug and a gentle shake of droplets from her gray raincoat. A very cozy beginning to the season!
Darkness will come early tonight, and if the skies are clear, our little family will celebrate winter’s arrival with a bonfire by the lake. By the Yule log, we’ll warm our hands and faces, reflecting with gratitude on the many blessings of the last year, and setting our intentions for the next.
Once inside, we’ll be starting a new Solstice tradition: the gift of winter-themed books for the youngest readers in the family! This year, we picked three sweet titles for our baby boy: The Tomten (in honor of his Swedish heritage), Grandmother Winter (in honor of his German heritage), and Flannel Kisses by Linda Crotta Brennan. All are stories that celebrate the traditions and simple pleasures of wintertime itself, and all are readable the whole season long (not just December 25). At bedtime, we’ll read them alongside A Child’s Calendar by John Updike, a favorite book for marking the progression of the seasons year-round.
Enjoy this shortest day and longest night of the year, everyone! Wishing you peace and light this holiday season!
Winter solstice is one of my favorite days of the year. There is something absolutely magical about it (especially if it happens to snow on that day). I like the idea of a winter solstice family tradition, too.
Yes, there is magic to the changing of the seasons, especially winter’s arrival! Wishing you a happy solstice!
I love your kiddie lit. recommendations. Thank you. Grandbaby Rose is benefitting !!
Winter solstice was my Mom’s birthday.
Merry Christmas. boughs and bows ~
Excellent, Nancy! One more seasons-oriented title you might love is I Am a Bunny. It’s a classic — illustrated by Richard Scarry — and comes in board book format, which is fantastic for very little ones like Baby Rose (and Bennett)! The book takes a bunny named Nicholas through all the seasons, and is one of Bennett’s current favorites. Happy winter to you!