Thoughts on the Winter Solstice
Sunrise at Stonehenge on the morning of the Winter Solstice.
sol·stice
/ˈsōlstəs,ˈsälstəs/
noun
the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun reaches its maximum or minimum declination, marked by the longest and shortest days (about June 21 and December 22).
What does the winter solstice have to do with window treatments or pillows you might ask? I’ll explain in a minute. Right now, I’d like to talk about what the solstice is, why it is celebrated, and what it means to me.
Symbolism and Meaning of the Winter Solstice
Spirals are a symbol of moving inward as we approach these dark, long, winter nights.
The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the calendar year. The sun sets early and the night is long. As someone with Scandinavian heritage, I feel a particular pull at this time of year. In northern Sweden, where my grandmother was born, the nights at this time of year were seemingly endless. The solstice (known as Yule by the Vikings) was celebrated to mark the turning of the sun toward longer days.
One of the symbols of the winter solstice is the spiral. It makes sense when you think about it. For the winter solstice, we are moving inward: into our homes, into our thoughts, and into our period of planning and waiting. If you embrace the winter for those things, it doesn’t feel so depressing, does it? I love my beach walks as much as the next gal but there’s something special about slowing it down and taking time to dream.
Bringing it Inside
Warm lights bring an element of coziness to any dark corner.
When I try to embrace these cold winter months, I find it’s important to have little nooks and spots in my home that provide me with a feeling of comfort. I’m blessed with a home that has beautiful natural woodwork so it’s always warm and inviting even with little intervention on my part. Yet I like to add candles and small amounts of twinkle lights to give my rooms an added dimension of warmth. This year, I’m noticing I’m like the cobbler whose children have no shoes. My windows are largely uncovered. What can I say, I’m indecisive when it comes to my own design choices.
I was making dinner last night at 5:00 and it was pitch black outside. As I stood at the stove, I felt fully on display. My two kitchen windows are uncovered leaving passers by (it’s a big walking neighborhood) to wonder what was for dinner. On top of feeling exposed, it just looks cold. Look at an uncovered window at night. Does all that black glass shining back at you feel warm and cozy? Not to me it doesn’t.
Warming it Up!
Custom roman shades add an element of warmth and pattern to an otherwise monochromatic room. The shades don’t use too much fabric so they are not overwhelming in a space that has a lot going on.
So, I will be making some pretty roman shades to add some life and pattern into my largely monochromatic kitchen. I know how to make them so this isn’t a big deal for me. I won’t do drapery as that’s too much fabric and I have a radiator right in front of those windows. The shades will give me some privacy. More than that, they’ll keep heat loss down and, bonus points here, they’ll be pretty.
As we head into these winter months of contemplation, renewal, and planning, how are you going to create an environment that makes that possible and even pleasurable? Maybe it’s window treatments. Maybe it’s a beautiful pillow or two that will give you a much needed lift. If you are in need of ideas or inspiration, I’m here to help. Call or book your appointment today.