The Holiday Season: Today

Today many of us yearn to make the holiday season
more meaningful, more loving, perhaps more spiritual.

Candlegrove traces the winter holiday season daily from Thanksgiving through Epiphany.

`December 12, 2007`

It's Poinsettia Day, so named for Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American diplomat who introduced the Central American plant to the United States. Poinsettias, the most popular potted plant in the U.S., are known in Latin America as Flores de Noche Buena, Flowers of the Holy Night, since they bloom around Christmas time.

It's also Day of our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. Parties and pilgrimages honor "the Dark Virgin" who caused roses to bloom in December 1533 as a sign to build her shrine on a hill near Mexico City. Now patroness of all of Latin America.

`Tips for the day`

If you buy holiday poinsettias, some tips and facts (more at the Poinsettia Pages):

Poinsettias are not poisonous.

They prefer daytime temperatures of 60 to 70°F and night temperatures around 55°F. Higher temperatures shorten the plant's life.

Water only when dry and let water drain from bottom of pot.

Instructions for care after the holidas and reflowering.

Winter Solstice 2007: Dec 22, 6:08 am Universal Time

Be sure to adjust for your time zone:
EST: Dec 22, 1:08 am
CST: Dec 22, 12:08 am
MST: Dec 21, 11:08 pm
PST: Dec 21, 10:08 pm

If your holiday celebration depends on knowing sunrise and/or sunset times for winter solstice or any other day in your location, find it online at the U.S. Naval Observatory. The database covers 22,000 US locations. For world locations, you'll need your latitude and longitude.

This site also lists solstices and equinoxes through 2020. You'll need to convert to your time zone from Universal Time.

Planning your holidays?

Some simple ideas for celebrating Winter Solstice.

Read other ideas from Candlegrove visitors.

Or share your plans with others by leaving me feedback.

Considering a solstice ritual?

Scroll down this page from Beliefnet for a couple articles that can give you ideas about the essential elements of a winter solstic ritual
Or here's a more formal ritual for a group, Tacoma's Welcome Yule Ceremony.

Online Snow Day

Make your own online snowflake, share a message with others, and see what others have done. Five million snowflakes and counting!
SnowDays

Online shopping tips

Buy beautiful organic and sustainable gifts at EcoExpress Gifts

Buy mistletoe online
Mistletoe Gift

Beeswax candles
Chase Honey Company
Love this family business! Check out the pinecones and other molded shapes.

The Body Shop - Free Shipping on Order over $50

This season's archive

A note about the commerce links on this site: Candlegrove is essentially non-commercial. In some cases, links from this site yield a small affiliate fee. Half of all funds generated by such links help sustain this site. The other half is donated to environmental organizations.

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