Welcome to winter, my friends. As tonight marks the solstice, that makes today the shortest day, a perfect time to read this poem from Susan Cooper, the author of The Dark Is Rising series.

The Shortest Day
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp~Copyright Susan Cooper

So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
The lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen,
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us — listen!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land.
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends, and hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year, and every year.
Welcome Yule!

Be safe and loved and rejoice in this shortest day and this longest night, for tomorrow we begin again our journey toward sunlight and warmth.