Why we are not celebrating Christmas this year.

This year our family will be dedicating 5 days to celebrate the winter solstice, connecting each day with an element and using the element's qualities to guide us into a remembrance of the qualities within us.

I was raised on Santa and turkey feasts, it was a time to fill to the point of explosion on rich foods and drinks, a time to connect to loved ones, a time to spend heartbreaking amounts of money on ‘stuff’ that no one really wanted, in an attempt to show how much I cared about them. Don’t get me wrong I have very fond memories, the shopping, the preparation, the lazy slumbers after mountains of food. But as I started to question my beliefs and the authenticity of my actions, this was an area I looked deeply into. When I became single in 2013 I stopped celebrating Christmas and started traveling over the festive season. Meeting Ilan quickly brought words to my feelings about christmas. I knew I resisted it, I knew I didn’t connect to it, but I didn’t know I could leave it all behind and transform this time into my own personalized celebration.

Firstly, I do not identify with being Christian, I found I had a connection with the energy of Jesus , but I could not blindly hand my faith over to the Christian doctrine. I also was not raised to celebrate the savior, yes we would sing songs about him, put baby Jesus statues on a bed of cotton wool and once I stood dressed as a proud donkey in the nativity play, but as a family we were connected to the religiousness of it. So, what’s the harm in celebrating Christmas and welcoming the big white bearded man down the chimney with a glass of sherry? Santa, who was initially created by cartoonist Thomas Nast in the 1870s and later popularized by Coca-Cola, was a representation of The legend of Santa Claus who can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick, he became known as the protector of children. Anyway, the history is all a bit messy, but Coca-Cola did do a great job at monetizing this jolly soul and since it has been the season of debt and the promotion of mass production. For our family it is easy to scrap it completely and instead create our own celebration! I do not identify with being a pagan either, but I do connect to the truth that on the Winter Solstice, the sun travels the shortest path through the sky resulting in the day of the year with the least sunlight and therefore, the longest night and the first day of winter. I feel this is a good reason to celebrate! I am all about rituals so I will jump at the chance to pour intention into celebration!

Throughout history, societies across the world have held festivals and ceremonies marking winter solstice, the day of the "sun's rebirth.” Most often, winter solstice celebrations honored the symbolism of fire and light, along with life, death, the rising sun, and the moon. Putting all these beliefs, rituals and stories aside, there is something to be said for the energy on earth at this time, as many different cultures have some kind of celebration, remembering those who have passed, connecting to gratitude, holding space (or not) for intense emotions and asking for peace in this confused world.

It’s a time where each fear and desire has time to surface, which is actually pretty profound. All of our conditioned beliefs are challenged. Parents taking out loans to buy presents for their children so they don’t feel neglected, feeling the pain of loneliness or the absence of a loved one, the fear of potential arguments ruining the family gatherings or partners coming home drunk and abusive! Or maybe it’s a time filled with hope, excitement and glorious happenings. All are important because all arisings are offering us an opportunity to see what resonates deep within our soul.

Just because something is familiar doesn’t make it the healthiest option for you or your family.

What can you practice that will nourish you and your family?

This is my plan:

21st - 25th December

Each day write a letter to a loved one, on the 25th day post them or take a photo and send it. Take time to clear your mind, tune into the person and write freely from the heart. If the person is past you can offer the letter to the earth.

Day 1. Earth element

Dig a small hole, write down a wish or intention or prayer and feed it into the earth

To honor our earth and our cycle of rebirth, make a wreath with things you find around you

Day 2. Air element

Make dried orange slices and hang around your home

Play music, sing and open your heart to sound

Create and hang ribbons, paper snowflakes and send our love to the yourself, your family, and the collective

Walk to the highest point and breath, feel the air nourishing you and allow the universal wisdom to move through you

Day 3. Fire element

Make a fire pit, this might even be a candle depending on what’s possible for you.

What fears continue to move you?

What arises in them moments?

Let it go into the fire. Honor the fire element allowing it to assist in the transformation of the fear.

Day 4. Water element

The elixir of life, can you find a beautiful water source to connect to? Maybe you can take a bath and practice a meditation visualizing all the forms that water takes on this earth

We will be making mulled wine this year, a cozy celebratory drink which will fill the air with spice, what will yours be?

Day 5. Ether element.

Today we will feast. A time to enjoy the preparation of blessing the food and creating magic. Oh and of course, cuddling up with a cup of cacao! I have a 10% discount code ‘junglemama’ to use at www.cacaosita.com

Welcoming our loved ones, alive and in spirit. A bringing together of all the teachings that the elements bring and living in the presence of all the efforts of the days just passed.

I’d love to know what you think of this blog, please connect below.

Wishing you love,

Danielle