Winter Solstice Celebration

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Come celebrate the longest night of the year in the company of thoughtful women with a gentle, interactive pagan ritual. No Pagan or Wiccan experience necessary to enjoy tonight and find it meaningful to your own life.

ABOUT THE BLAST PAGAN CIRCLE
Come out of that dusty old broom closet! Together we observe and honor the holidays, the turning of the wheel of the year, and the ebb and flow of our own lives. We celebrate our unique individual spiritual paths in a safe and supportive atmosphere of joy and acceptance. The BLAST Circle welcomes all Pagan, Wiccan, Toltec, Fae, and other earth-based belief systems.

COST: Free

TIME
We will gather starting at 7pm to socialize, eat, and enjoy libations. We will begin the Solstice Celebration at 7:30pm sharp. No latecomers will be allowed to enter after the door is closed at 7:30pm.

KIDS
Older girls might enjoy the activities. Note to moms: Extended periods of quiet and reflection will require advanced attention span. No little ones, please.

WHAT TO BRING
• Whatever you want to drink
• A small amount of food to share
• Packaged/canned food to donate to local needy women
• Item(s) to place on altar

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY
First floor, no steps. Small bathroom with narrow door.

PETS
No pets live here

PARKING
PLEASE CARPOOL IF YOU CAN! Not a gated community. Park in the cul-de-sac at the end of the block, or in spots C, G, or any GUEST spot in parking lot. We need to minimize parking at the curb in front of the building.... our elderly neighbors thank you!

DIRECTIONS from I-95
Blue Heron exit 76
Go east onto Singer Island, go over big Blue Heron bridge
Pass Phil Foster, Lake, and West
Turn left on Park (PNC Bank on corner)
Park deadends into Sugar Sands condo village
Look left - there's building 1201
Unit #6 is downstairs by parking lot

SIGNIFICANCE FOR PAGANS AND WICCANS
Winter Solstice (the longest night) has been celebrated in various cultures all over the world for thousands of years. It’s the start of the solar year – the celebration of Light and the rebirth of the Sun. In old Europe it was known as Yule, from the Norse Jul, meaning wheel. Today in Western-based cultures, this holiday has generally become known as Christmas. A look into its origins reveals its Pagan roots. In the third century as part of the Roman Winter Solstice events, Emperor Aurelian established December 25 as the birthday of the “Invincible Sun.” In 273, the early Christian church selected this date to represent the birthday of Jesus, and by 336 the traditional Roman solar feast was Christianized. (January 6, celebrated as Epiphany in Christendom and linked with the visit of the Magi, was originally an Egyptian date for the Winter Solstice.)

Most of the customs, lore, symbols, and rituals associated with Christmas actually are linked to Winter Solstice celebrations of ancient Pagan cultures. This includes the colors red, green, and white, as well as the traditional use of a fir tree with a star on top and small quantities of food and bells strung throughout the tree. Here’s more information and ideas for how to re-Paganize Christmastime and the secular New Year: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/pholidays/SolsticeArticle.html

SOLSTICE AND CHRISTMAS
A look into the origins of Christmas reveals its Pagan roots. Emperor Aurelian established December 25 as the birthday of the "Invincible Sun" in the third century as part of the Roman Winter Solstice celebrations. Shortly thereafter, in 273, the Christian church selected this day to represent the birthday of Jesus, and by 336, this Roman solar feast day was Christianized. While Christian mythology is interwoven with contemporary observances of this holiday time, its Pagan nature is still strong and apparent. Pagans today can readily re-paganize Christmastime and the secular New Year by giving a Pagan spiritual focus to existing holiday customs and by creating new traditions that draw on ancient ways.

MORE ABOUT WINTER SOLSTICE IN GENERAL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice

FOR MORE ABOUT THIS EVENT, CIRCLE, OR LOCATION
Janis: janiskidder@gmail.com - (561) 281-6880

FOR MORE ABOUT BLAST
Toni Jr.: toniajr@icloud.com

PLEASE TAKE OUR QUICK, ANONYMOUS POLLS
https://www.meetup.com/BLASTwpb/polls