Large Fierce Mammal

Pre-Christian history is full of spiritual beliefs that personify the sun as a deity who dies and is resurrected, even as the sun that reaches its shortest period of life in the sky is reborn to linger just a little longer each day in the blessed march toward what is hoped to be a new year full of hope and prosperity. With Christianity came a similar legend in the story of Jesus Christ, who gave his name to the festival we call Christmas. And so it continues.

Spiritual observances surrounding the winter solstice, even in such climes of winter dearth as northern Europe and North America, are often characterized by feasting and revelry of a degree that seems logistically ironic to the point of negligence if taken from a purely practical view, but ill befall him who shows lack of trust in his Gods by hoarding instead. ~ A Long Winter’s Night – The Winter Solstice is the Reason for the Season

Welcome back, Goode and Weary Traveller, to another Long Winter’s Night. Alas, we meet again in troubled times, but that we’ve met again at all is cause for celebration. True, some us won’t live to smell the first breath of Spring, but no matter. We’re here now, and let’s make a pact to go forth from this place resolved that ere we meet again, and in the face of all adversity, to make such a full and absolute accounting of ourselves as will be worth a song.

I would like to begin this year’s revelry with an interesting bit of work written by Alison McLeay. Originally broadcast as a BBC Radio play on 21 December, 1985, it features the voice talents of Michael Elder , Diana Olsson and Paul Young. The perfect fare for a Long Winter’s Night.