Tuesday, December 31, 2024
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? 2024!
The sublime songbird Ella sings the ultimate version of this lovely, classic song..."What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
I hope whatever you do, you have fun. And stay safe.
I hope whatever you do, you have fun. And stay safe.
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Happy Hogmanay 2024 - 2025!
Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year's celebration that takes place over the course of several days. While the festival and its customs date back to pagan celebrations of winter solstice, the word Hogmanay itself is harder to trace. Scholars have guessed that the word possibly comes from the French, Norse, or Goidelic languages.
The largest Hogmanay event, held in Edinburgh, kicks off with a torchlight procession tonight, December 29th, 2024. An enormous crowd of celebrants accompanied by pipers and drummers, fire, and fanfare in a river of light wind through the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town.
Events continue through the 30th. This year, the Night Afore Disco Party at West Princes Street Gardens and set against the backdrop of the iconic Edinburgh Castle features Hot Dub Time Machine with The Cuban Brothers and High Fade. Then December 31st is Auld Year's Eve. The Concert In The Gardens will be headlined by Scottish band Texas and guest Callum Beattie. And of course the world-famous "Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party" will culminate, as usual, in an overwhelming firework display at the stroke of midnight.
January 1st is Ne'erday, a contraction of New Year's Day. The celebrating and "first-footing" continue, and many Scots still observe the day with a special dinner of steak pie. However, the annual Loony Dook which takes place in the Firth of Forth (a wacky costumed cold plunge for charity), is not part of the official 2024-2025 Edinburgh Hogmanay events and after being cancelled in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, it is unclear if it is going to happen on January 1, 2025.
https://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/
http://www.visitscotland.com/
The largest Hogmanay event, held in Edinburgh, kicks off with a torchlight procession tonight, December 29th, 2024. An enormous crowd of celebrants accompanied by pipers and drummers, fire, and fanfare in a river of light wind through the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town.
There are many charming New Year's customs in Scotland. "First footing" is the idea that the first person to cross the threshold of your home is a harbinger of good luck. Starting immediately after midnight, people call on friends, going from house to house for much of the night and even into the morning and next day, with over half the population of Scotland observing the practice of "first-footing." It is good luck for the "first-footer" to be a tall, dark male. Traditionally, this male would bring gifts of a coin (symbolizing prosperity), bread/ black bun fruitcake (symbolizing food), salt (flavor), coal (warmth), or a drink (good cheer). These days, a "first-footer" usually just brings the whiskey!
January 1st is Ne'erday, a contraction of New Year's Day. The celebrating and "first-footing" continue, and many Scots still observe the day with a special dinner of steak pie. However, the annual Loony Dook which takes place in the Firth of Forth (a wacky costumed cold plunge for charity), is not part of the official 2024-2025 Edinburgh Hogmanay events and after being cancelled in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, it is unclear if it is going to happen on January 1, 2025.
Haud Hogmanay, everyone!
https://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/
http://www.visitscotland.com/
Friday, December 27, 2024
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Winter World 2024
 |
| Vienna, Austria |
 |
| Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
 |
| Rome, Italy | Photo by fabio_insta88 |
 |
| Gdańsk, Poland | Photo by Martyna Damska |
 |
| Athens, Greece | Photo by Romanos Hiliarhopoulos |
 |
| Chinatown, New York, New York | Photo by Christophe Jacrot |
 |
| Kinkaku-ji Pavilion, Kyoto, Japan |
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
It's Midnight At Christmas 2024
"Snowflake" by Kate Bush...
I was born in a cloud...
Now I am falling.
I want you to catch me.
Look up and you'll see me.
You know you can hear me.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
We're over a forest.
There's millions of snowflakes.
We're dancing.
The world is so loud. Keep falling and I'll find you.
I am ice and dust. I am sky.
I can see horses wading through snowdrifts.
My broken heart, my fabulous dances.
My fleeting song, fleeting.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
My broken heart, my fabulous dance.
My fleeting song, my twist and shout.
I am ice and dust and light. I am sky and here.
I can hear people.
I think you are near me now.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
We're over a forest.
It's midnight at Christmas.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
I think I can see you.
There's your long, white neck.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
Now I am falling.
Look up and you'll see me.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
In a moment or two.
I'll be with you.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
Be ready to catch me.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
Kate Bush taught me how to fly.
http://www.katebush.com/
I was born in a cloud...
Now I am falling.
I want you to catch me.
Look up and you'll see me.
You know you can hear me.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
We're over a forest.
There's millions of snowflakes.
We're dancing.
The world is so loud. Keep falling and I'll find you.
I am ice and dust. I am sky.
I can see horses wading through snowdrifts.
My broken heart, my fabulous dances.
My fleeting song, fleeting.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
My broken heart, my fabulous dance.
My fleeting song, my twist and shout.
I am ice and dust and light. I am sky and here.
I can hear people.
I think you are near me now.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
We're over a forest.
It's midnight at Christmas.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
I think I can see you.
There's your long, white neck.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
Now I am falling.
Look up and you'll see me.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
In a moment or two.
I'll be with you.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
Be ready to catch me.
The world is so loud. Keep falling. I'll find you.
Kate Bush taught me how to fly.
http://www.katebush.com/
Lights Will Guide You Home 2024
On this Christmas Eve, may you find your way home, where ever that may be, especially if it can only be in your heart.
Monday, December 23, 2024
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Happy Winter Solstice 2024!
Today is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Tomorrow, the sun begins its return to the northern hemisphere.
Welcome back Sol Invictus.
Welcome back Sol Invictus.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
