A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Found this post on the Caught by the River blog and liked the chickeny Welshness of the festive sentiment... Today is December 21st Midwinter’s Day, The Winter Solstice. In Wales, in my family and I’m sure many others, this, the shortest day is known as Cam Ceiliog. Like much of the language, and the nation as a whole, especially our fly-halves, it makes sense when considered poetically. Roughly translated, Cam Ceiliog is the length of a cockerel’s step. It describes the distance by which we can see the daylight start to extend as we walk away from the winter’s depths. From this moment, every day grows a little, and the light returns, by the length of a cockerel’s footstep. Cam Ceiliog holds an intangibility to stir the heart. We are just, now, on this shortest of days, at what TS Eliot called ‘the still point of the turning world’. Garlic, that humble elixir for the winter grey, was traditionally planted on Midwinter’s day and harvested six months later on Midsummer morning. Such horticultural equilibrium turns gardening into alchemy. Though a long way off, Midsummer in all its dancing colour, whether late into the evening or round the back of a tent somewhere in the quickening dawn, is where the mirror is now headed. Cam Ceiliog suggests a moment of quiet reflection. There is much celebration and cutting loose to come in the next week or so, but Cam Ceiliog is an echo chamber, a wisp of a day that vanishes just as soon as it appears. A day to wander around in your mind’s interior, just a few moments of thought and the shortest day is done. I think of it as a lambent beacon in the dark, a sign to raise a glass and make a quiet toast to your inner Beltane. In the weeks ahead, if you find yourself sloughing through the back end of winter, and its tendency to immovable gloom – pace yourself. Cam Ceiliog has marked us a path. The daylight is coming. One step at a time. By Richard King Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 What a beautiful post, thanks for putting that on here - I needed something to lift me today and that's done the trick. Might steal it and put it on my wall BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Beautiful Poem......and it means Spring and Summer are on the way!! Warmer, longer days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Oh I really like that and will bear it in mind as we slog through January towards February ( I know loads of people hate Feb but I love the latter half..the pussy willows and catkins never fail to make me smile ...and perhaps my steps will be bigger than a Cockerels then!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 I love reaching the shortest day, I remind myself that we are now on the way to spring and summer its a cheery thought on the dull days. As a contrast and perhaps forewarning though, my Dad always says 'as days lengthen, Winter Strengthens'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 What a lovely thought! (the original post.......not winter strengthening!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Lovely posting. Thank you. Although I don't think I can get to garlic planting at the mo! Should have done it earlier, but that's a nice tradition and timely reminder. One cockerel step at a time though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 That is so interesting! No chance of me getting garlic in the ground either, good job it went in at the beginning of November It's definitely 'In the bleak Midwinter' round here, earth is as hard as iron and water very much like a stone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
