Winter Solstice 2007

I've just returned from a wonderful evening at Brigit's. There were many, many people there to celebrate the longest night of the year. We pulled logs around the house three times, singing and hooting and hollering to chase away any of the bad spirits who may still be hanging around at the end of the year. Then everyone got to chop the logs up and put all negative energy into the wood (which, coincidentally, can take it), and Scott built a marvelous gigantic fire on their lawn. Vera joked that he might need to organize another party in the spring to put down grass seed. We went inside and had the tastiest food imaginable! Everyone had put a lot of thought and care into the food they brought. Yumm-o!

Then the show started! We were visited by some budeli (Mummers) who wanted to know if we would buy their horse (who was made of a brother-sister team with blankets over them). At one point, an apple dropped from under Zinta's hair - a real horse-apple! After much hilarity, including Max getting a ride on the horse's back, they sold their horse for money, food, and an accordion. Luckily, after a while, the Rutini returned from wherever they had gone outside and Andris poured hot wax into cold water for us to tell our fortunes in the shapes the wax made.

Daiga and Zinta started playing their accordions and everyone did traditional Latvian dances in the middle of the living room floor. I started getting tired; it's been a very long and full week for me.