Advent/solstice spiral

We thought it fitting to hold our advent spiral on this Sunday - the fourth Sunday of advent and also the winter solstice. We decided to enjoy this special event in the woods and this will be something we will each remember for a long time.
We had all the evergreen we needed right there and prepared a spiral around a mossy tree stump we liked the look of to serve as our centre.


We told stories and drank warm tea whilst we waited for it to be dark enough for us to light the candle and walk the spiral. (Excuse the red eyes in this picture - not a good shot - but a picture that captured the essence of the time nevertheless.)

Mark amused us with his 'falling off a log' antics.

Little Noah enjoyed eating the apples I had prepared as candle holders for the candles. He happily ate bits off each one!

We recited this verse from The Festival of Light story in Reg Down's 'Festival of Stones' as we walked the spiral and lit our candles from the centre flame. Leo loved it so much he gaily sang snippets of the verse all the way home and up until bedtime.
"Bless this candle
Burning bright,
Bless its shining
In the night.
Bless the boughs
Upon the ground,
Bless the path
That spirals round.
Bless our tread.
So strong and stout,
Bless our winding
In and out."
What a beautiful, special evening this was ... full of warmth and love with our light shining on a cold, dark wintry night.