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THE CELTIC CONNECTION ♦ DECEMBER/JANUARY 1994/1995
READ THIS!
VIDEOS, CDS, CASSETTES Island Music distribute most UK labels - Over 20 Records Labels and 250 Artists
VIDEOS
Jimmy Shand • '94 Tattoo «K. McKellar • T. Scott • Alexander Brothers • Gaberlunzie • J. McLeod • Peter Morrison • Igus • Lake District • Bill Gardens Orchestra • Christmas in Scotland • and much more!
CASSETTES AND CDs
All the above plus: Garioch Blend • Wolfstone • Ian Menzie (Clyde Valley Stompers) • Graigowl • J. Ellis • Ossian • Andy Stewart • Old Blind Dogs • Will Millar • Capercaillie • Runrig • Sheila Ryan • Susan Trudells' Lullabies for Xmas • Meg Davies • Hamish Imlach • Gael Force • New Celeste • Francis Canning • and now The Irish Rovers • Billy Connolly • Tom Kilpatrick • and much more!
OUTLETS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
• The Croft, Sidney, B.C. •
• The British Connection, Nanaimo, B.C. •
• Scotch Measure, Courtney, B.C. •
• Scotch Shop, Vancouver, B.C. •
• House of McLaren, Vancouver, B.C. •
• Black Swan, Vancouver, B.C. •
• Scottish Shop, Calgary, Alberta •
• HMV, Toronto, Ontario •
• Wee Scottish Loft, Niagra-on-the Lake, Ontario •
• Continental Shop, Los Angeles, CA •
• Scottish Heritage, Long Beach, CA •
• British Food Centre, San Francisco, CA •
• The Landing. Bellingham, Seattle, M.Vernon, WA •
For three pages of artist lists contact:
ISLAND MUSIC Phone (604) 929-2706 or Fax (604) 929-7906
SHEILA RYAN and Sarsfield
Now taking bookings for their B.C. and Alberta tour in February
Sarsfield is a four person Celtic group who play Irish harp, pipes, mandolin, flutes, banjo, keyboards and guitars. Having worked as studio musicians and in concert and lounge acts.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION or to order Sheila's latest CD Down by the Glenside Produced by Will Millar
CALL (604) 389-0012
WINTER SOLSTICE
As the Days Lengthen Yule Signifies Change
By CYNTHIA WALLENTINE
At the winter solstice, the sun reaches the southernmost point of its orbit and begins to journey northward, thus gradually lengthening the days in the northern hemisphere.
Throughout history, this "return" of the sun has been marked by ceremonies and ritual observations, to express humanity's relief at the restoration of warmth and light, as well as the constancy of the universe.
Although the symbolism has changed over time, this expression of seasonal change remains deeply embedded in our festival of Yule or Christmas.
In many ancient cultures, the rebirth of the sun was measured by solar aligned structures, which were constructed to direct the light of the winter solstice to a particular point or room within the structure.
The passage grave Newgrange, located in County Meath, Ireland, just north of the river Boyne, is possibly the oldest man made structure on earth. Built in approximately 3000 B.C., it stands about 36 feet high and 300 feet in diameter. The tomb is constructed to allow the sun's rays to pierce a 62-foot passageway to the centre of the burial chamber on December 21 and a day or two before and after.
Symbolically, the architecture allows for the solar penetration of the womb-like tomb, thus bringing the light of personal rebirth to the souls buried within, as well as the cosmic rebirth of the sun unto the earth — a powerful message of spiritual regeneration.
The Druids called the festival of the winter solstice "Alban Arthan" and the mistletoe cut from oak trees for their ceremonies still figures in contempo-
rary Christmas revelry. Romans celebrated winter solstice as "Saturnalia," which marks the time in the stellar year when the sun enters the zodiac sign Capricorn. The merry festival of Saturnalia was a time ofdecora-tion, with evergreen boughs, riotous feasting and gift giving.
The word "yule" may have its beginnings in the Norse "Iul," meaning wheel. In nature religions, the goddess gave birth to the sun-child at the winter solstice who would grow to become her consort in Spring, her lover in Summer and fade away to die at Samhain. The Christian reinterpretation of the goddess' birth of the sun-child is the Christmas nativity.
The solar god of the Christian age is Christ and his birthdate was set by the Church in approximately 273 A.D. to coincide with the birth of other midwinter sun-gods. Mary, the Christian goddess, as "Queen of heaven," is consigned to glory only for her role as the chaste mother of the Christ/sun-god, no longer a creative, organic partner in her own right.
Turning to Celtic traditions which have survived the years, there is a Scottish tradition of storing the last handful of corn harvested, for feeding to the cattle at Yule time to insure their health and fertility. The nature-worshipping pagans brought their bonfires indoors in winter,
hence the significance of the Yule log.
Often, a remnant of the Yule log was and still is saved to kindle the next year's fire and Yule ashes were spread over the fields to protect crops. All decorations and traces of the Yule festival were disposed of by Candlemas, February 2, or else hobgoblins would haunt the home — the original reckoning behind "spring cleaning."
Jolly old St. Nicholas is himself a magical elf and shares the moniker "Old Nick" with the Devil. "Nik" is the English name for Odin, known in Norse mythology as Woden. Odin, and his Greek counterpart Zeus, were the respective chieftains of the Norse ana Greek pantheon of Gods. Both were all-seeing, shape-shifting master magicians, who sometimes took on human forms to walk among the people, punishing the uncivil and rewarding the good.
Zeus flew the skies on the winged horse Pegasus, Odin took to the wind on an eight- legged steed. Come Christmas, many children have been warned to be good, lest they receive a lump of coal from Santa Claus on his annual journey across the night sky where he is ferried by eight tiny reindeer. Our jovial elf Dears a much greater resemblance to the old gods of fertility and merriment than the Christian Saint Nicholas.
Take a walk on the solstice and in a moment of quiet, reflect on the light returning to your life and the rebirth that can happen not only at solstice but every day of the year. Or decorate a tree or bough and garnish it with presents for loved ones. Whether your celebration is seasonal, celestial or communal, the wheel is turning and the cycle begins again.
NEWGRANGE, COUNTY MEATH, IRELAND — BUILT IN APPROXIMATELY 3,000 BC Each year, on December 21, the inner chamber is filled with the light of the sun