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12/21/21 - NNHS Newsletter - Winter Solstice |
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“Grant, O God/dess, thy Protection and in protection, Strength and in strength, Understanding and in understanding, Knowledge and in knowledge, the Knowledge of Justice and in the knowledge of justice, the Love of it and in the love of it, the Love of all Existences and in the love of all existences, the Love of God/dess and all Goodness.” - Nichols, 305 |
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Dear Friends and Schoolmates,
Today's
Newsletter, marking the day's Winter Solstice, is especially for
Domi O'Brien ('64) of NH
Avens,
but as we celebrate everything together here
with our big happy Typhoon family,
Good Yule to all!
BONUS #1 - Ring Out Solstice Bells - Jethro Tull, 1976
No free midi file is available, but I think you'll enjoy that video, as well as this one Domi sent me on 12/05/11:
BONUS #2 - Winter Solstice & Yule Time Blessings - Winter Born by Unto Ashes
Thanks, Domi!
From http://www.cupofwonder.com/songs3.html#solstice:
| This song is a dance to celebrate winter Solstice (mostly on the 22nd and sometimes on the 21st of December) and appeals to rejoice the lengthening of the days, c.q. the return of the light. In it druïds dance while the narrator calls for people to gather underneath mistletoe and give praise to the sun. For many European nations like the Celts, and the Germanic peoples this festival in ancient times was one of the major ones of the year, full of rites and ceremonies of which some survived the ages like the bonfire/fireworks. During its spread over Europe, Christianity claimed this festival by 'implanting' Christmas as a festival of light on the 25th of December. The back of the sleeve of the "Solstice Bells"-EP (released in 1976) has a brief anecdote describing how the Church coöpted the pagan winter solstice celebrating, Yule, and replaced it with Christmas... |
HOMEWORK:
The Winter Solstice is a Minor High Day, usually occurring around December 21st or so of the civil calendar. Also known as Yule and Midwinter, this is a day sacred to Sun, Thunder, and Fire Deities. Large fires were built outdoors and Yule Logs lit indoors, in order to rekindle the dying Sun and help it to return brightly to the Northern skies. Burnt logs and ashes from the Midwinter fires were kept as a talisman against lightning and house fires. It was also a custom in many parts of Paleopagan Europe to decorate live evergreen trees in honor of the Gods (cutting down a tree to bring indoors is a blasphemous desecration of the original concept). This is considered, along with Midsummer, the best day of the year to cut mistletoe. Among some Mediterranean Paleopagans, a date on or near this was celebrated as the Birthday of Mithras and/or the Feast of Saturnalia (which the Christians co-opted to use for the birth of Christ).
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Happy
Winter Solstice
Birthday today to
Happy Birthday tomorrow
to
Happy Birthday this week to:
23 -
Holly Hill Campbell (Hampton Roads Academy -
'72) of VA;
24 -
James Gay ('57)
AND
Ann W. Hutcheson ('57)
AND
25 -
27 -
28 - Bob Stalnaker ('63)!
Many Happy Returns, One and All!
THIS DAY IN WWII:
THIS DAY IN 1971: |
| December 21, 1971 - Singer-songwriter and guitarist Matthieu Chedid, aka -M-, was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. |
| "And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given." |
Thank you, Laura!
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Thank
you, Joan!
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From Domi O'Brien ('64) of NH
- 12/16/17 - "Santa Lucia":
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Thank
you, Domi!
Good Yule to you and yours!
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One of my
best memories of Christmas as a boy was helping my older brother find a
Christmas tree for his high school homeroom class. It was a different
time back then, a time when you couldn't just ask your parents for money
and you often had to use sweat equity to earn what you wanted. It wasn't
easy, but it usually turned out to be fun and worthwhile and it made us
stronger, wiser and taught us the value of a dollar. And even the
purchase of a Christmas tree by a group of high school students back in
those days could be a big deal. It was the late 1950s, my brother was a junior in high school and I was still in elementary school and 
Bobby ('61) came home from school just after the Thanksgiving
holiday with a daunting assignment. Following a school tradition for
Christmas at Newport News High, students
in home rooms were divided into small groups, each with a specialized
assignment based upon the luck of the draw. His group was selected to
provide the class Christmas tree.
Sounds easy, right? Not so fast, for
the rules of the game were specific. You could not buy a tree, you could
not cut a tree from property without explicit permission of the owner,
and the tree had to be at least seven feet tall, either a small, live
evergreen or a portion thereof. |
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| It was an evergreen like these, only larger. | ||
I was sitting in with them since they said they would take all the help they could get, but I could think of nothing. They adjourned looking down and dejected, but promised to gather again Saturday morning with a plan. They didn't want to be the only group to fail in the class although they knew it would have been much easier had they gotten the assignment to provide decorations or such other items. But alas, they had to work with what they had. As I returned from school that Friday afternoon I found Mom standing at the kitchen window and gazing into the back yard. And then I realize what she was looking at. It was that big old evergreen over by the fence line that was now oversized and much too tall. We looked at each other, she smiled and went back to fixing dinner while I went to do homework. At that moment, I knew exactly what she was thinking without her uttering a word. She was going to offer Bobby the top out of that large tree if he could get in down safely. As we sat down to dinner that night, Mom casually spoke. "So, Bobby," she queried, "Did you have any luck on your tree search?" "No, Mom," he said dejectedly, "and the guys will be here at 9 in the morning. What am I going to do?" "Well," she said with a twinkle in her eye, "you better get whatever it is you need to cut a tree tomorrow 'cause you're gonna' cut the top out of our backyard evergreen. That tree is just getting too tall so there's your answer." Bobby jumped up and ran over and hugged Mom, almost forcing her to spill the pot of soup. But he was excited and so was I and Mom just stood there chuckling. And after dinner, Bobby called his buddies and told them the news made some plans. Mom and I only hoped that they knew what they needed and could figure out the right way to tackle the job. She didn't want the top of that tree falling on the neighbor's fence since it was over thirty feet tall. Saturday morning dawned dreary and gray with heavy laden clouds indicating the likelihood of snow. Right at nine the group began to assemble. Philip from down the street came up whistling jingle bells and wearing climber's boots and carrying a roll of strong rope and thick gloves. Jerry came from the other direction with two different sized hand saws. I was tasked with being the "step-and-fetch-it" for the older boys, making sure they got anything they needed when they needed it. Bobby bounded out the backdoor and greeted everyone then asked, "Has anyone seen Jack? We can't start without Jack." "He'll be here", said Jerry, who lived close to Jack. "He was late coming in last night but I talked with him. Don't worry." The boys grabbed a football to toss around while awaiting Jack's arrival when suddenly we heard the noise of a loud engine and the shifting of gears. Backing up the driveway to the point closest to the tree was Jack in his father's wrecker. He set the brace on the back end and pulled the metal cable over to the tree for use. Now that things were in place, the boys went to work. Philip, the most agile of the group, climbed the tree slowly, trying to keep branches from smacking him in the face from the thick tree. About four feet from the top he yelled down for the end of the two ropes that would be used as guidelines for dropping the tree safely. Jerry would man one and I would handle the second one, keeping a thirty degree angle from each in the general direction of where the tree would be cut to fall. After several tries, we couldn't clear the thick needled limbs so Bobby climbed with ropes in hand and left them with Philip. He attached them to the tree about five feet from the top, then tossed the other end to the two of us waiting below and we held them tight. Then he hooked the chain to the tree a few feet below, dropped below the level where it could kick back on him. He focused on that for a moment while Bobby made sure the chain wasn't tangled in the branches before getting ready to cut. Meanwhile, Jerry and I made sure the two guidelines were taut. When everyone said all was clear, Philip went to work with his hand saw. It took some time to get the cable over and around the branches but it worked and finally Philip was up to the original guideline. He checked it for tightness, made sure the line was a straight shot down to Jerry, came down another two feet and hooked the cable to the trunk. Then he climbed down another four feet and began sawing. As he was working slowly on the thick trunk, he began singing a rather bawdy version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, eliciting a muttered comment from Mom who was outside with us and watching with a smile on her face. Later she would tell Philip if he sang that song at school he would likely get sent home from school. Then she laughed and walked back inside. We all knew that Philip would be Philip and so did Mom. That's why she smiled, but Philip and all the neighborhood boys loved Mom for she was always kind to all of them, which made him quickly stop. As the saw neared the three quarter way mark on the trunk at the base of the tree, a slight cracking sound was heard and Philip yelled for tight lines, telling Jack to start to rewind the cable slowly on the tow line as the top began to lean. Jack, Jerry and I got into a rhythmic pattern and Philip lowered himself down a few more seats to avoid being hit by the tree and he was right on mark, avoiding any danger as the tree began to fall, hitting a large bough then falling down to the ground. We all cheered when the nine foot section of tree fell right where planned and I do believe I saw Mom sigh with relief, but it was ever so subtle. Boy, were we proud of ourselves and felt like we were kings of the world. We trimmed the small branches and twigs near the base of the cut, stood it up in a ten gallon bucket containing sugar water and propped it up securely against the garage so it would stand and soak up the water to keep it fresh. Jerry said his father would make a stand suitable for the classroom. But for now, the tree would remain in the container until Monday morning when it would be delivered to the high school for display. We awoke Sunday morning to snow, very unusual for coastal Virginia this early in the season. And when we walked outside to look at the tree, it had been decorated by nature. The rich green branches were decked out in a beautiful white coating of thick, wet snow and sitting on a number of the branches were a family of cardinals, the males showing their beautiful red against the green and white background. What a glorious site indeed. One of the older boys came by Monday morning to take the tree to school. I even went to the high school PTA meeting with Mom the following night since the tree would be on display in Bobby's homeroom. The parents of all of the boys were there to compliment the job of their sons, who loved every minute of the adulation, yours truly included. It was beautiful and had been decorated with homemade decorations, white lights and red bows galore. And the handmade stand had been painted to look like a gift box. What a beautiful use for the top of that glorious evergreen and, what's more, maintaining its life status until school was closed for the holiday, it survived and continued to grow thanks to those drilled holes and he cold weather and was later planted on one of the city's school grounds where it survived for many years. It took years for the original tree to fill in it's flattened top, resulting in a broader but still pointed tip. And the base became fuller and broader as it continued its march both skyward and outward. The last time I was back in my old stomping grounds I rode by the old house and the tree was still there, only much taller and still broadening. If it didn't die of disease or lose a battle with a hurricane over the years it's probably still there. But regardless, I'll always remember the special Christmas tree gift that the beautiful old evergreen gave to all of us on that Christmas years ago. One of those stories I can never forget. |
Thank you so much, Jimmy!
Merry Christmas!
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From My Friend, Ann, of MO - 12/21/20:
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Happy
Solstice!!!
Thank
you, Ann - I certainly hope so!
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 Thanks,
Cheryl!
Merry Christmas
- See you soon!
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“My mother is the kind of woman you don't want to be in line behind at the
supermarket. She has coupons for coupons.”
- Chris Rock |
BONUS
YULE AND CHRISTMAS CROCHET PATTERNS:
| Bonnie Barker's
Yule Tree Throw & Pillow - "This elegant design will add a note of
comfort to any style of decorating and will be enjoyed whenever the
weather is cold. The cable patterns are beautifully designed, featuring
fir trees along the centers of both throw and pillow." Shara Lambeth's Pixie Bonnet Pattern - "This sweet little Pixie bonnet is very quick and easy to make and uses very little yarn, so it's a great stash buster and perfect as a last minute gift for a new arrival :-)" |
BONUS
YULE LOG KNIT PATTERN:
Susie Johns'
Yule Log and Robin
- "This delightful yule log is neither to be eaten nor put on the fire, but
knitted and admired for years to come, and we’re sure it will be too. The log
and base are really simple to make, while the robin is a bit more detailed. He’s
mostly knitted in the round and the legs are made from wire wrapped with yarn.
We suggest using florists’ wire for this as it’s easy to bend. He’d also make a
great decoration in his own right!"
BONUS
YULE LOG CAKE RECIPES:
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FINALLY:
From http://www.ajokeaday.com - 12/20/18:
I was not ready for retirement and was looking for
a new adventure, so I decided to take up FENCING. |
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PRAYER
ROLL: http://www.nnhs65.com/requests-prayers.html - updated 06/16/21 |
BLOG: http://nnhs.wordpress.com/ - updated 03/13/11 |
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Love to all, Carol |
NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE:
http://www.nnhs65.com
PERSONAL WEB SITE:
http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat
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Carol Buckley Harty 7020 Lure Court Fayetteville, NC 28311-9309 910-584-8802 "Never underestimate |
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THREE WAYS TO DONATE: 1. Visit the main page (http://www.nnhs65.com), scroll halfway down, and click on the Pay Pal Donate Button (nnhs65@gmail.com); 2. Go to www.PayPal.com, log in, select "Send Money (Services) to nnhs65@gmail.com; or
3.
Just mail it directly to my home. Thanks!
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Ring Out, Solstice Bells
Written by Ian Anderson (b. 10 Aug 1947)
Recorded by Jethro Tull, 1977
Now is the
solstice of the year,
winter is the glad song that you hear.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Have the lads up ready in a line.
Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Join together beneath the mistletoe.
Seven druids dance in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Praise be to the distant sister sun,
joyful as the silver planets run.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out those bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Ring on, ring out.
Ring on, ring out.
"Ring Out, Solstice Bells" lyrics courtesy of
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jethrotull/ringoutsolsticebells.html
- 12/20/11
"Red Bird Berry" image courtesy of
http://dailydig.bruderhof.org
- 09/13/04
"Crown of Thorns" image also courtesy of
http://dailydig.bruderhof.org
- 12/15/04
Holly Divider Line clip art courtesy of
http://www.bravenet.com - 08/12/04
Animated Tiny
Birthday Cake clip art courtesy of Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA - 08/31/05
Thanks, Sarah Sugah!
Navy Seal clip art courtesy of
http://www.onemileup.com/miniSeals.asp - 05/29/06
Small Yule Log clip art courtesy of ??? - 12/22/06
Army Seal clip art courtesy of Al Farber ('64) of GA - 05/24/06 (still
missing...)
Thanks, Al!
Replaced by Norm Covert ('61) of MD - 02/09/09
Thanks, Norm!
Animated Poinsettia courtesy of Joyce Lawrence Cahoon of VA - 12/06/08
Thanks, Joyce!
Animated Rolling
on the Floor Laughing Boy courtesy of
http://www.animationfactory.com - 04/06/05
John Marshall High School's Justice Scale clip art courtesy of Cheryl
White Wilson (JMHS - '64) of VA - 10/13/05 (replaced 02/23/09)
Thanks, Cheryl!
Animated Ringing Christmas Bell clip art (designed by Art Holden)
courtesy of
http://www.animationfactory.com - 12/08/05
Jeffrey Holman's Image "A Drop in the Bucket" courtesy of
https://tearsfromalonelygod.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/a-drop-in-the-bucket/
- 05/23/16
THIS WEEK'S
