Winters tend to be long, dark and cold on the mighty St. Lawrence River.  Technically, winter does not arrive for another couple of weeks, yet we’ve already had a fair dose of winter weather.  Our winters begins with celebrating the Yule.

This time of year, there are a lot of different celebrations going on for many different reasons. Hanukkah, Ramadan, Christmas, Kwanzaa … and the Winter Solstice, or Yule. When people say, “The reason for the season!” and point to the birth of Christ, I always scratch my head. The reason for the season is actually, well, the seasons. The rotation of the earth.  -Christie Haskell

The Yule denotes a time of rebirth and starting over.   We pause in retrospect of the previous year and look forward to charting a new path for the months ahead.  While the sun makes its  gradual return to prime placement in our sky, our spirits are lifted and the harshness of winter becomes more bearable.  It is also a time for spreading love and charity.  The Yule offers a time of hope for peace as families and friends gather far and near.