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Yule Ritual For
Children
This is a nice, simple
winter Solstice ritual used to bring back the light.
It is designed to do with children.
Solstice is a special
night because it marks the return of the sun.
For a while now, the sun has been setting pretty early at night.
It is beginning to feel like it will never be light and warm at
night. But tonight a
special thing happens. The
sun stops setting earlier everyday and starts to set at the same time
each night. Pretty soon it
will begin to set a little bit later every night until finally it stays
up after we have gone to bed. We
acknowledge and honor this cycle of death and rebirth and thank the sun
for returning yet again.
The
Ritual
The adults set up bunches
of candles on the table with one candle in the center representing the
sun. Turn off all the
lights in the house.
For half the year, day by
day,
slowly the world has grown
darker.
For half the year,
night by night, slowly the
dark
has grown longer.
Tonight that ends and the
(Light the sun candle.)
The darkness was
never complete
A spark was always waiting
to return and turn again.
And now it will grow
greater and greater.
The light will come back.
The cold will go away and
once
more we will dance in the
warmth
It has always been this
way
The wheel turning from
darkness
to light and back again
and our people have always
known
this and have turned with
it.
All:
The wheel is turning
and light's returning.
(During the litany all the
candles are lit.)
HP:
In the greatest darkness
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Out of Winter's cold
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
From our deepest fears
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
When we most despair
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
When all seems lost
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
When the earth lies in waste
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
When animals hide
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
When the river is frozen
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
When the ground is hard
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
From the midst of the wasteland
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Shadows are fleeting
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Light is returning
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Warmth will come again
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Summer will be here once more
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Plants will grow again
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Animals will be seen once more
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Life will continue
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Green will come again
All:
The light is reborn
HP:
Death will not be forever
All:
The light is reborn
(Sit for a minute and
reflect on the litany. Then
go through the house turning on ALL of the lights.
Leave them until you feel it is enough. Leave the sun candle
burning until bedtime.)
Silent night, Solstice
night
All is calm, all is bright
Nature slumbers in forest
and glen
Till in springtime, she
wakens again
Sleeping spirits grow
strong
Sleeping spirits grow
strong
Silent night, Solstice
night
Silver moon, shining
bright
Snowfall blankets the
slumbering earth
Yule firs welcome the
Sun's rebirth
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Silent night, Solstice
night
Quiet rest until the Light
Turning ever the rolling
Wheel
Brings the winter to
comfort and heal
Rest your spirit in peace Rest your spirit in peace Written by Caroline 1999 |
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