This Wednesday is winter solstice, the shortest day, and the Burning of the Clocks goes on here in Brightonia to much amusement. It's basically a costume carnival procession to the beach to watch fireworks and a big wicker man burn down, but there's nice traditions associated with it already even though it only started in the '90s. All the local children make and decorate little paper lanterns which they carry then chuck on the fire, sometimes with a wish (which reminds me of a tradition where you write two lists, one of good and one of bad things in your life, then hang the bad list on the old christmas tree and burn it for the new year). The costumes are amazing and the whole town joins in, thousands of people partying in the streets and dancing, it's a public pagan festival-
With ceremonial splendour the old year is burnt along with the costumes and lanterns and fireworks make way for the New Year and the coming of spring.
Start one in your town! It's great! Make new traditions based on the old, celebrate the passing of the old and the birth of the new, and at last the days get longer, we're heading toward summer again, w00t! Any excuse for a huge costume party! |
