#the winter solstice

[eregyrn-falls-art]

The Shortest Day - Welcome, Yule!

What better way to spend the longest night than around a nice campfire and some hot chocolate, under the stars? (I wish! But I'll live vicariously through the Pines, as usual.)

Kind of an update of a similar piece I did in 2020; and in a way, kind of a sequel, I guess.

With the winter solstice past, the days grow longer once again. But winter isn't done with us yet, so keep those warm drinks coming!

#gravity falls #stanford pines #stanley pines #mabel pines #dipper pines #the winter solstice #welcome yule! #my art #id in alt

[chaoticxcreature]

happy birthday to percy jackson [stans] and percy jackson [stans] only

#the WINTER SOLSTICE #percy jackson #heroes of olympus #walker scobell #leah sava jeffries #aryan simhadri #rick riordan #pjo tv show #disney+ #annabeth chase #grover underwood

[oldfarmhouse]

https://instagram.com.cottagefarm

#the winter solstice #the winter house

[theblackestofsuns]

"The Winter Solstice"

Ginger Fox #2 (October 1988)

Mike Baron and The Pander Brothers

Comico

#Ginger Fox #Mike Baron #The Pander Brothers #Comico #Great Comics #Great Comic Art #The Winter Solstice

[sokkastyles]

Thinking about how Iroh's sweaty sandal bookends his relationship with Zuko.

When Zuko finds Iroh's sandal in "Winter Solstice," and stops his mission to go after him, even choosing not to follow Appa until Iroh is rescued, it develops Zuko's character as someone who cares about more than just capturing Aang. It's one of the first times in book one where we see Zuko make a choice that contradicts his established character as an obsessive villain, and shows us how important Iroh is to him that he is willing to temporarily put aside his goal to save his uncle.

This episode also characterizes Iroh as somewhat of a nuisance to Zuko. The reason Iroh ends up getting captured is due to him taking a stop at the hot springs. Zuko is extremely unimpressed by this, thinks Iroh is lazy, and, like any teenager, makes a big deal of being grossed out by his uncle's state of undress.

Iroh is the source of a lot of body humor in this episode, which highlights his characterization as indolent and carefree (although that is also used to contrast with his skillfullness and obfuscating stupidity in defeating his captors later in the episode.) This also contrasts with Zuko's obsessiveness and strict and militaristic behavior.

It should be noted that this is also one of the first times we hear in detail about Iroh's past as a great general. The contrast is intentional. We are introduced to the Fire Nation as a fascist, imperialistic regime, and Iroh as one of its formal generals, but the Iroh we know is, as a character, the antithesis of fascism. A man who gave up greatness and military prowess for a life of simple pleasures, also visually shown through his appearance as a fat old man. Bodily perfection is also a tenent of fascism. Better to die in battle than to become old and fat through a life of leisure, and these are traits that Ozai, Azula, and early Zuko use to criticize Iroh. This does not necessarily mean that Iroh is not physically fit. He is still as powerful as ever, but he lets himself be physically humiliated for most of the episode.

The body humor is also emphasized by Zuko finding the sandal and immediately recoiling at the smell. The smelly sandal turns out to be useful in tracking down his captured uncle, but it also reminds us of how Zuko sees Iroh, as a lazy, ridiculous and slightly repulsive thorn in his side. Yet we know he also cares deeply about Iroh, despite his complaints. When Iroh is found and the danger is past, Zuko exasperatedly reminds his uncle to "please, put some clothes on."

Fast forward to book three, and Zuko revealing that he kept the sandal all this time for the narrative purpose of using it to track down Iroh once again. This time, Zuko and Iroh had also been seperated by Iroh's capture, but Zuko was partially responsible for Iroh's imprisonment, a choice he deeply regrets. When Zuko makes his great escape, he tried to rescue Iroh as well on the Day of Black Sun, only to find that Iroh had already broken out of prison.

It's also notable that Iroh does not seem to have tried to come back for Zuko, as he seems to have realized that Zuko must make the last steps on his own. This time Iroh isn't leaving the sandal for Zuko to find and follow, but the revelation that Zuko had kept it all this time does tell about the strength of their relationship.

There's no real reason for Zuko to have kept the sandal, and Zuko himself looks like he might be confused about why he kept it, but it does serve as a connection between them, and also shows the development of their relationship. Zuko is the only one in the scene not recoiling at the sandal's grossness - besides Toph, who thinks it's sweet - which is a notable contrast to Zuko's previous reaction to the sandal. Zuko no longer sees his uncle as a nuisance or a reluctant companion. Which isn't to say that Zuko will never complain. He still looks grossed out holding the sandal, the scene still emphasizes the grossness of Zuko carrying around this old, sweaty sandal that is now attracting flies, but we get the sense that Zuko is more okay with his uncle's quirks, and the sandal is eventually what will be used to reunite the two, something Zuko chooses to do on his own, though it requires humbling himself and apologizing, which we see is very hard for him to do, which in fact terrifies him because of the thought that Iroh may no longer accept him. But Zuko has accepted Iroh in a way that also lets us know, despite Zuko's fears, what the outcome will be, because we get a sense of the genuine affection between the two.

Zuko is like, this is my gross uncle and I love him.

#zuko #iroh #atla meta #the winter solstice #the day of black sun #the old masters #iroh's sandal

[now-winter-comes-slowly]

#midwinter #solstice #winter solstice #the winter solstice #childermas #the feast of holy innocents #holy innocents day #mother night #new year #winter festivals #articles #the clearing #katherine may

[sailorrose19]

Just me and the gods enjoying a nice and relaxing online Yule Log. It's officially Yule, the Winter Solstice and I look back on my year as I await for the return for the sun's warm embrace and granted it had been pretty difficult but I managed to get through despite having parents who still deny that their eldest daughter is no longer a Catholic Christian. The gods have helped me better than what the Christian God had ever done for me which was nothing. But the dieties I have connected with did more and I did my share looking deeper into myself. Loki helped me accept the chaos around me and that it was okay for me to be different in context that I should not conform to harmful views and ideas to fit in seeing as I had been put through enough of that in the Catholic Church. Aphrodite helps me tap into loving myself even at the times where I hate myself and she sends either a sign or speaks to me through my dreams or thoughts letting me know that even though Christianity is the cause of my self hatred because they view self love as a sin of vanity. Aphrodite tells me that learning to love myself is not sinful. Lord Lucifer, the radiant morning star teaches me to stand up for myself and stand for what I think is right and to ask the right questions without feeling like a heretical doubter as Catholicsm branded me as. Through letting him in, Lucifer says that not all knowledge is forbidden and learning beyond what you were taught is essential in one's own personal growth and to let my own light shine through. Thor not only helped me face my fear of thunder and lightning but showed me to be brave even when fear wants to devour you whole. I may have been easy prey to fear but Through Thor's mightiness and courage, I turn the tables around making fear my prey.

Yule blessings to everyone, love and honor to the gods. Blessed Yule and Blessed be

#yule #yule log #the winter solstice #first day of winter #winter solstice #Yule blessings #blessed be #blessed yule #paganism #out of the broom closet #polytheistic pagan #winter #self reflecting #just reflecting #me and the gods #diety worship #diety work #love to the gods #deity loki #aphrodite and me #luciferian #hail lucifer #lord lucifer #aphrodite #ex catholic #deconversion #deconstruction #looking back on the year #ex religious #religious trauma

[cosmictulips]

Have a Blessed Solstice everyone!

I gave my coworkers their presents today and they all loved them. I still have a few more left to do. but for now, I get to relax a little bit. do a shit ton of cleaning. and just enjoy the day.

...and I also have to finish up some last minute gifts lmao

#ah yes #the winter solstice

[weirdchristmas]

I have tried for years to discover something, anything, about this card with no success.

#christmas #xmas #solstice #winter #postcard #postcards #card #cards #vintage #retro #ephemera

[mugentakeda]

in my opinion the best "zuko joins the gaang early" fics are the ones that take place in book 1. the comedic potential is unparalleled

#I reread my favorite one out of them all #aka “winter solstice: an addendum” on ao3 #its zukka flavored. and its unfinished. very fun #atla #avatar the last airbender #zuko #aang #katara #sokka #iroh #jet #jetko #jetara #alicias art

[tygerland]

#winter #wildlife #deer #outdoors #snow #nature #photos #beauty #cats of tumblr #love is love #cats #winter solstice #animals #friends #december #thanksgiving #besties #cottagecore #aesthetic #🤎

[aworldofperioddramas]

#little women #the winter solstice #christmas #yule #perioddramas #perioddramasedit #winter solstice

[maypoleman1]

21st December

St Thomas the Apostle’s Day/ The Winter Solstice

Source: The Book of Christmas, The Enchanted World, Time-Life Books

Today is St Thomas the Apostle’s Day. A day on which the benign witches of Dorrington, near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, gather outside the village church. Unlike most of their kind, spotting these witches at play will not result in your kidnap, being turned into a toad or being cursed for the rest of your days: these witches are far more likely to invite you to join them in their sing-songs, conversation and games. Even Satan finds Dorrington relaxing. On a moonlit night he may be spied in the church, playing marbles.

Today is also the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the darkest night. In days past, the people danced to make benign magic, like the Dorrington Witches, to defend themselves at this time of the life-giving sun’s lowest ebb. The solstice sword dance was often performed in which dancers, clad in colourful ribboned costumes, recalling the hues of summer, would circle from left to right (sunwise) and point their swords into the air. At the climax of the dance, the participants would lock their swords together, forming the apex of a five pointed star: a symbol of the vanished sun.

#st Thomas the apostle #the Dorrington witches #benign magic #the winter solstice #sword dance #the shortest day

[vanessagillings]

Happy Winter Solstice! 🌙✨

#illustration #watercolor #gouache #winter solstice #winter solstice 2023 #surreal art #artists on tumblr #children's illustration #traditional media

[kelseykingillustration]

Looking forward to longer days, but enjoying these beautiful nights. Happy solstice!

#winter solstice #winter #greetings #solstice #digital art

[dragonsllayer22]

#winter solstice