As Christmas went by and then the new
year, even Thanksgiving for that matter, this year it's been hard for
me to “feel” these holidays/events. Not because I don't care,
quite the opposite. As a matter of fact, because I do care, I did
noticed the difference from the past. It used to be that these
holidays/events were marked with much anticipation and then an awe
inspiring experience. But lately, with almost a culmination this
year, that has not been the case. Possibly because I spend most of my
life these days on a hill farm without TV, advertisement, news, etc.
Either way or whatever the reason may be, I've been wondering why.
Why is so... ?... as I look around at snow covered trees and roofs,
while feeling the warmth of my sheep wool as they surround me during
morning and evening feeding time.
Well the warmer temperatures are sure
to be a reason -- temperatures, hence seasons, don't seem to follow
what we've grown accustomed to or at least taught. It used to be that
sometime during “fall/autumn”, temperatures would get lower, the
air colder, days shorter, and everything kind of died back and/or
slowed down. Now that's happening in December... well... well into
December may I add, and this in Vermont!
Although I must say that
growing up in northern Italy was not much different -- OK a bit
warmer with a bit less snow. But you definitely felt autumn's change
and then the so called dead of winter. Although I much rather see the
“dead of winter” as a rebirth/regenerative event. Which brings me
to the ancient times...
Way way back... a new year didn't begin
in January in the middle of winter... if you will. Rather, for many
cultures, and for some cultures it still does today, it began in the
fall, after harvest. I have read, but mostly I have grown to feel
based on my closeness to nature and animals since I've had my farm,
that the fall and the end of harvest-time marked the beginning of a
new year. A new beginning, which included a kind of calm and
incubation period... yes during the winter months... until new life
exploded in the Spring. Well I must say I've been feeling this lately
and more so this year -- although a bit delayed thanks to our new
seasons which are a bit different and late these past 2 years. I
suppose this is so because of the closeness with nature and critters
I've come to enjoy, thanks to the farm. I almost didn't need the
internet for that... believe it or not... it just came to be an
almost instinctive feeling that just grew to make sense.
So enough of this ancient almost
druid-like yapper for those of you who find these sort of things not
so interesting. So... back to my next point, which again came to me
during the inspiring moment of feeding my sheep their evening meal of
good ol' Vermont grown hay: have you ever noticed that most and some
of the most important holidays/celebrations of western culture occur
in the late fall and winter? Well I did today... and thought: mmmm...
yeah it's a rebirth/regenerative time because nature's asleep,
critters are either in hibernation or on a more slow and sedentary
period, and we humans -- well in the ancient times -- slowed down and
stayed home -- really I read until very recently even wars & battles were put on hold during winter. So it makes sense that when
everything and everybody is huddled up trying to stay warm and
survive for new life in the Spring... we chill out... relax... and,
at least we humans, celebrate!
I am sure, doing a bit of an internet
search on the subject will load you up with plenty of resources,
searches, studies, etc. on the subject -- which is great. But I find
it interesting when I come to a thought/conclusion just based on what
I get back from being surrounded by beautiful life in the form of
plants, trees, animals -- both wild and domesticated --
precipitations, clouds, temperature and pressure changes, etc. It's
nice to know and really feel life as it starts out anew awaiting for
the spring to burst and prosper!!
