Tuesday 23 September 2008

What's in a Bite?

Honouring the apples which bring us the sharp sweetness of our land concentrated into one delicious bite.

It's been a busy few days here in the MarmaladeKiss household, what with Jimmy's b/day, the sun shining, and the Autumn Equinox. Now that it's all over I am heaving a huge sigh of relief and welcoming the growing darkness which will take us through to Midwinter. Oooh, don't look at me like that. I LIKE it when it's cold and dark, and I know i'm not the only one.

The equinoxes both are my absolute favourite times of year. I like the equality between the day and night, and the feeling of balance that each brings, along with the sense of excitement and anticipation at the prospect of the season to follow. I don't know about anybody else, but I can smell the winter coming on around about August time. It's a whiff in the air every now and then, which sends a chill thrill right down my spine. I mean that in a good way.

The autumn equinox occurs at some point between 20-23 September and is celebrated by the festival of Alban Elfed which in Welsh/Brythonic means 'light of autumn'. It is the end of the grain harvest, the celebration of 'Harvest Home'. Now the high energy we have experienced over summer is slowly ebbing away as the earth prepares for it's rest over the quiet stillness of winter. We can acknowledge what we have harvested so far and that which is still to be harvested over the coming weeks. We can relax a little after our hard work through the growth season. We can celebrate and give thanks for what we have gained over the year and we can find it's value for ourselves and for our communities, as we too prepare for the short days and long nights to come before the start of the next cycle.

Happy Equinox everyone!

11 comments:

Kitty said...

I like the Equinoxes too - that sense of balance is something I can 'feel'. The solstices hold *something* too, but it's a very different energy to the equinoxes.

Maybe it's just us Oxfordshire people?!

x

Marmadaisy said...

Not that I want to contradict you, but Welsh for light of Autumn is "golau Hydref". Alban means Scotland.
I love the eqinoxes too! And I love it when it's cold and dark. My favourite time of day is very early morning when the ground is frosty, the sun is shining and the air is crisp.

Marmadaisy said...

Durrr! Alban also means equinox. Brain freeze.

walter and me said...

I love this time of year too, it's very special. Love the growing darkness as well! Beautifully written, thank you.
D x

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

We are looking forward to longer days and more sun down here!

Fancy Elastic said...

I love the cold and dark setting in too, i start tiring of it in Febuary though!

Thanks for your comment, Mr Elastic recovering well!

Lindsey said...

Glad it's not just me then. I always put it down to being a September baby.

jennyflowerblue said...

Yay for Autumn, yay for actually noticing what season it is and that life has a rhythm. I think I might be a plant because light and water seem to affect me on a level which I'm only just becoming aware; PMT with full moon? -Were wolf Jenny!

laoi gaul~williams said...

oh i am an autumn/winter lover~lots of layers, that wonderful 'smell' and colors, cold nights sat wrapped in a blanket in candlelight with a hot mug of mead...............ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh thank you for this post :)

dragonfly said...

Thank you for the reminder of the equinox - things have been so manic here, I'd forgotten...

I also keep forgetting to say that I'm reading Women Who Run With The Wolves too - isn't it fab?

Florence Knapp (Flossie Teacakes) said...

I love autumn too and mid-August I start feeling ready for the cold weather, and not just because I prefer wintry clothes.

Thank you for your comments on my soapboxing...your gift ideas make good sense. x