Welcoming Winter

Samhain: The beginning of the darker half

The beginning of Winter

The wheel turns

The seasons change

Temperatures fall

The wind whips up

The trees sway

I can see my breath

As I walk through the woods

I think of wintery blue skies

Running barefoot over frosty grass

The night sky so deep and dark

The stars shining brightly

The bracken turns brown

The leaves begin to fall from the trees

The plants begin to fall asleep

Sending their energy

Deep down into the earth

Their foliage dying away

Breaking down over winter

To nourish the soil

And bring new life in the spring

The wheel turns

The cycle continues

The veil is thin

Between seen and unseen

The darker half begins

We head towards Yule

I light a fire to keep warm

Reminding me of the sun

The light that’s leaving us

I cook apple with cinnamon

Make myself cosy

With blankets and layers of clothes

I think of the yew tree

A symbol of everlasting life

Of the creatures hibernating

Bedding down for the winter

Of ancestors, those gone before

Of ancient people who knew this earth

I wonder how they kept warm

Without central heating

Without bricks and mortar

What they ate, and how they cooked it

They wouldn’t have had cinnamon

But a local spice we’ve long forgotten

The sky is darker

The stars become brighter

The air feels cooler

I tug my hat down over my ears

Pull my coat around me

Winter is here

Join us to celebrate Samhain, the beginning of Winter, and the darker half of the year.

Find out more about what's coming up on our What's On page.

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