The forum I've been on for decades (and am staff on these days), The Cauldron, does an annual Up All Night celebration. There's a forum thread where people share things, people hang out in the Discord server, and there are some plans for a group meditation (via conferencing software) and a few other things. It's one of my favorite bits o fthe yearly cycle now.
If this intrigues anyone, anyone can join us - you just need a membership on the forum (which is free) to participate. There's an intro to the forum thread here with some helpful info forum (like all places that have been around for a while, there's some specific ways we do things), and here's a bit more about Up All Night.
I'm also looking forward to Yule with my current students (this is the first year in about 8 I've had group work in person as an ongoing thing, so delightful.)
The complication is that due to issues in my current apartment, we decided last night I'm moving into an apartment that just opened up in my building on a different floor, and so I am going to be spending most of the next two weeks packing all the things.
I read about that on The Wild Hunt! I've never participated but it does sound like fun. Last year I was up quite early. I have a copper candle holder that acts a bit like a lighthouse for tea light candles that I lit at dawn. I can't stay up all night these days because my fawns don't believe in sleeping in. :D
I actually hadn't thought about it. I like the idea of doing something though; I'll probably just light a candle and talk to the gods for a while. I've participated in the Cauldron's Up All Night celebration, and I can vouch for it :) It's a great way to reach out to other people celebrating the night.
For the past few years I cook a big meal and decorate a bit with candles and that. Have family and friends over but I am unsure if anyone is gonna be able to make it this year :( So I may just cook a kinda fancy meal for me and my partner light some candles and that.
We have several things coming up: a friend does an all-night vigil on the solstice night proper (no one person has to stay up all night, but someone's always awake, we play games and drink cocoa).
Another friend always does a 'sing up the sun' event, which thankfully is not the SAME day this year. :)
And then the usual group ritual at Gaia Community.
I'll be doing Alfarblot,a Heathen rite to the male Ancestors. I did one for the female Ancestors(Disablot) on Samhain. I've been switching them back and forth for about 15 yrs now since, depending on where you were, you held either. More Modern Heathens celebrate the solstice as Modrinacht(spelling)or Mother's Night so hold Disablot then. Cheers, Pat
I actually do not have to work on the 22nd for the first time in forever, so I'm probably going to try and keep vigil this year. I'll be keeping company on the Cauldron, and probably doing some work with the Dark Lady, mending/sewing, planning for 2019 and things like that.
A couple of local Heathen friends have a Yule do at their house on the solstice every year. They smoke a big cut of pork (like a massive ham) and everyone brings other dishes potluck. Basically just a party, although it includes their kids (who are fast getting older, geez, the elder must be pushing 13 by now?) opening their presents. The idea is to stay up all night. My husband and I have never quite made it that far, although the first time we were there I think we stuck it out until about an hour before dawn.
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(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-05 03:33 pm (UTC)If this intrigues anyone, anyone can join us - you just need a membership on the forum (which is free) to participate. There's an intro to the forum thread here with some helpful info forum (like all places that have been around for a while, there's some specific ways we do things), and here's a bit more about Up All Night.
I'm also looking forward to Yule with my current students (this is the first year in about 8 I've had group work in person as an ongoing thing, so delightful.)
The complication is that due to issues in my current apartment, we decided last night I'm moving into an apartment that just opened up in my building on a different floor, and so I am going to be spending most of the next two weeks packing all the things.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-05 06:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-05 06:58 pm (UTC)The candle holder sounds lovely!
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-05 08:40 pm (UTC)I've participated in the Cauldron's Up All Night celebration, and I can vouch for it :) It's a great way to reach out to other people celebrating the night.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-05 09:36 pm (UTC)So I may just cook a kinda fancy meal for me and my partner light some candles and that.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-06 03:57 am (UTC)Another friend always does a 'sing up the sun' event, which thankfully is not the SAME day this year. :)
And then the usual group ritual at Gaia Community.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-06 01:29 pm (UTC)Cheers,
Pat
(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-06 09:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-07 08:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-06 11:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-07 03:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2018-12-12 11:34 pm (UTC)