DAY 21 of Aisha's YULE & day 1 of Lady Cattra's 12 days of YULE & The LONGEST NIGHT Ball by Confessions of a Kitchen Witch

PLEASE, PLEASE come back later this evening for my post.  (dental issues with son and my own sinuses---arrrgh)  Thank you :)

EDIT: it's here!

Hello all my friends and anyone new, I wish you all great greetings of the season!  I had such a wonderful plan in mind for the Longest night Ball post which would also be my day 21 post of Aisha's 21 days of YULE.  As you have all experienced in your own lives I am sure,...best laid plans and all!  I will not mention any of the reasons nor the yukkiness of life. This is a night for merriment!

so without further adeiu...

Here is the wonderful mask I made for tonight's Ball. (It was supposed to be on my face when photographed but alas I am alone.) Picture me with a sky blue turtleneck with spakly snowflakes on it, wearing this:

This is made with metallic paint, and then liquid pearls, stickles, and some extra doo-dads.

I used shades of a gorgeous bright blue and a slightly lighter shade, I did half of the mask in each, and then reversed them for the second coat. Then I used a blue, light blue, silver and white liquid pearls. Then turquoise stickles and sugar glitter as eye shadow.  Cut a piece of the wonderful peacock turquoise glitter floral stick, and some baubles from the bridal isle. I finished up with a metal snow flake on one cheek and a plastic, smaller one with silver glitter on the other.

I hope you like it!  

**If this event becomes an annual blog party, then next year, this will be what I giveaway, as I will make a new one for that Ball.

Though it has nothing to do with YULE, I have always been fascinated with Carnivale in Venice and would love to do that some time in my life.  I made this earlier in the year for a friend. it is a 4 x 4 for an alphabet album.

I used a black and white picture of a famous bridge in Venice for the background, a collage image of a fine couple out for a Ball. Collage letter stamps in embossed gold, and a chipboard letter "C" covered in Blue, green and purple glitter. I added glitter to the corners also.

Meanwhile back to 

YULE!!

for Aisha's YULE Blog Party at By The Broomstick.

Please visit the other blogs that are participating(above)

PLEASE pick a number if you haven't already won something!!

I am still a newb, learning. Therefore any legend, myth, devotion etc. will be coming from someplace I read it, and I will be giving credit to the right people.

ADDITIONALLY, I have a small gift tree that has a some ornaments on it, but it also has 21 little gift bags or envelopes that are numbered 1-21.  Each day I will pick a winner from the comments for that day.  These giveaways are priced from $1-$5, and there are a few are like booby prizes...I am doing this FOR FUN!!

EASY RULES:

*be a follower
*tell me something about that day's post that means something to you, or touches you etc.
*list your name
*pick a number from 1-21*  (*each day obviously there will be numbers listed as OUT, it will be your responsibility to pay attention to each day's posts, to see the number that is no longer available)

Please pick a number between 1-21 except for 11, 5, 7, 9, 21, 20,4, 16, 13, 3 & 17.

I will be picking 3 lucky winners from the numbers left, if I get people commenting and picking numbers :)

also for  Jennifer over at Confessions of a Kitchen Witch

and also for Lady Cattra's 12 days of Yule, as they all overlap

 a special Yule post and one final devotional:

   

A Blessed Solstice to you all!

From Patti Wigington, your Guide to Paganism / Wiccan

It's the time of the winter solstice, or Yule, for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. We're celebrating Yule, and marking the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. It's a time of rebirth and renewal, and the long journey back out of the darkness.

For those of you down below the equator, you're observing the summer solstice, or Litha, right now -- gardens are in full bloom, the earth is vibrant and alive, and the days are long and sunny.

Both Yule and Litha are celebrations of the sun -- different aspects of it, but solar holidays nonetheless. Whichever one you are celebrating this weekend, may you and your loved ones have a blessed and bountiful solstice Sabbat!

The gardens are blooming, and summer is in full swing. Fire up the barbeque, turn on the sprinkler, and enjoy the celebrations of Midsummer! Also called Litha, this summer solstice Sabbat honors the longest day of the year. Take advantage of the extra hours of daylight and spend as much time as you can outdoors. While you're planning your celebrations, though, you may want to take a minute to read up on:

LITHA

Celebrate midsummer by getting outside!

Image © Getty Images

• Litha History
• When is Litha 2010?
• Take the Litha Seven-Day Sabbat Class

Rituals and Ceremonies

Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Litha, but the focus is nearly always on celebrating the power of the sun. It's the time of year when the crops are growing heartily and the earth has warmed up. we can spend long sunny afternoons enjoying the outdoors, and getting back to nature under the long daylight hours.

Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying -- and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

• Midsummer Night's Fire Ritual
• Amergin Nature Meditation
• Celebrate Fathers
• Tool Recharging Ritual
• Prayers for Litha
• Ten Great Ways to Celebrate Litha

Traditions and Trends

Interested in learning about some of the history behind Litha? Here's some background on Midsummer celebrations - learn who the gods and goddesses of summer are, how they've been honored throughout the centuries, and about the magic of stone circles!

• Deities of the Summer Solstice
• Litha Folklore and Customs
• Setting up Your Litha Altar
• Litha Altar Photo Gallery
• The Oak King vs. the Holly King
• Germanic Pagans and Aerra Litha
• The Romans Honor Juno and Vesta
• The Vestalia Celebration
• Ra, the Sun God
• Sun Worship
• The Sun Dance
• Stone Circles
• Sacred Springs and Holy Wells
• Wildcrafting Herbs

Handfasting Season is Here!

June is a traditional time for weddings, but if you're Pagan or Wiccan, a Handfasting ceremony may be more appropriate. Read on to find out the origins of this custom, how you can have a fantastic ceremony, selecting a cake, and some great ideas on gifts for your guests!

• Handfasting History: An Old Tradition Made New
• How to Have a Magical Ceremony
• Handfasting Favors: Magical Gifts for Your Guests
• Deities of Love and Marriage
• Basic Handfasting Ceremony
• Jumping the Broom: Besom Weddings
• Selecting a Handfasting Cake
• Handfasting Bonfire Safety
• Check Out Our Readers' Handfasting Photos!

Crafts and Creations

As Litha approaches, you can decorate your home (and keep your kids entertained) with a number of easy craft projects. Celebrate the sun's energy with an elemental garden, a fiery incense blend, and a magic staff to use in ritual!

• Create an Elemental Garden
• Midsummer fire incense
• Handfasting Basket (13 Blessings)
• Make a Set of Ogham Staves
• Make a Magic Staff
• Stone Circle Sundial
• Lavender Dream Pillow
• Litha Blessing Besom

Feasting and Food

No Pagan celebration is complete without a meal to go along with it. For Litha, celebrate with foods that honor the fire and energy of the sun. Enjoy light summery snack wraps, some fiery grilled salmon, spicy and sweet candied ginger, and more.

• Lemon Balm Tea
• Savory Snack Wraps
• Fresh Fruit Fennel Salad
• Fiery Grilled Salmon
• Grilled Summer Veggies
• Candied Ginger
  
  
  

  A Prayer to the Sun God
  Thousands of years ago, Ra was honored as the Sun God. Today, many people still hear his call, especially at Yule. At the time of the winter solstice, Ra begins his long  journey  back to earth.  Take a moment to honor him as our ancestors once did, and celebrate the return of the sun.
  
  
  

  Welcome back the sun with a prayer to Ra, the sun god of ancient Egypt! Image © Getty Images

  .

  
  Welcome back the sun with this prayer to Ra, or adapt it to the gods of your tradition

  
  

  
  
  
  
  Great sun, wheel of fire, Ra in your glory,
  hear me as I honor you
  on this, the shortest day of the year.
  Summer has gone, passed us by,
  the fields are dead and cold,
  all of earth sleeps in your absence.
  Even in the darkest times,
  you light the way for those who would need a beacon,
  of hope, of brightness,
  shining in the night.
  Winter is here, and colder days coming,
  the fields are bare and the livestock thin.
  We light these candles in your honor,
  that you might gather your strength
  and bring life back to the world.
  O Ra, mighty sun above us,
  we ask you to return, to bring back to us
  the light and the warmth of your fire.
  Bring life back to earth,
  Bring light back to earth.
  Hail Ra! Ruler of the sun!

MERRY YULE!!

 As a Yule gift I offer 2 Home made ornaments that I made using spun glass, one has plastic components and the other paper. These will be picked from comments left. Even those who have already picked a number for Aisha's blog party posts and won, The only rule, is that you comment, and you are a follower.  Here they are:

 The larger one is on green spun glass, the smaller one is white.

bright and warm blessings to all!