Revitalizing "Twelfth Night" while prepping for Wintertyde's start

Courtesy www.enchanted-woods.com Poor Twelfth Night! Once upon a time the blowout we celebrate on Christmas Day occurred on Twelfth Night, January 5th. "Twelfth Night" marks the 12th day of Christmas and the time that the 3 Magi were just pulling into in Bethlehem. Epiphany occurs the next day on January 6th. In any event, "Twelfth Night" has pretty much been relegated to a discussion of Shakespeare's play of the same name. Nonetheless, by celebrating Wintertyde, Twelfth Night has a chance of revival! Wintertyders usually put up their Wintertyde wreaths and set up the tree and lights on January 5th, Wintertyde Eve. Technically, Wintertyde begins on January 7th. So, The Green Man suggests combining the celebration of Twelfth Night with preparations for Wintertyde. Also, by resuscitating Twelfth Night, a diversion is created to avoid the dreaded "post-holiday let-down." The goal for Wintertyders is to achieve a seamless and emotionally smooth transition from the end of Christmas and right into Wintertyde, thus leaving no space for "holiday blues." So there you have it. Brush up on your Twelfth Night knowledge and skills here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Night_%28holiday%29 and here: http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/xmas/twelfthnight/traditions.html "The Holly Man from the Thames" To herald the celebration, the extraordinary Holly Man, the winter guise of the Green Man, (a character from pagan myths and folklore, used on many pub signs in England), decked in fantastic green garb and evergreen foliage, appears from the River Thames brought by the Thames Cutter.

Successfully dealing with "January 2nd let-down" and holiday blues

Here on the East Coast USA it's almost New Year's Eve...just a few more hours. In any event, we're jumping ahead to post-New Year's Eve and post-New Year Day to provide suggestions to avoid being blindsided by the dreaded "January 2nd let-down." To use a metaphor, the holidays have been barreling along like a locomotive, then suddenly on January 2nd, a wheel falls off, as it were. Prepare yourself and your family by structuring this interim time day by day on the calendar. Start making plans to make sure all of your Wintertyde materials are ready to go up and about on January 7th, Wintertyde's Day...wreaths, trees, lights, ornaments...all of it. Such preparation will ensure a smooth transition from the end of the holidays into Wintertyde. Suggestions are to skip a big meal on January 1st as aspirin is all anyone will want. Reschedule it for Wintertyde's Day, January 7th, when you need it most, and everyone feels well. Have ready your Wintertyde small gifts for this day, also. The highlight is preparing "Hoppin John," blackeyed peas and rice and cornbread for dinner: Use

and

Instead of staring into an endless void of Winter on January 2nd, use that day and the rest before January 6th, Wintertyde's Eve and January 7th, Wintertyde's Day planning, planning, and doing what needs to be done before Wintertyde starts. Then you will have a great time putting up all your Wintertyde decor and having a great meal on the 7th. Proactively banish any chance of "January 2nd let-down."

"Feast of Saint Stephen " Greetings!

A Saint Stephen's Day wren Many know the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas," but few know what the "Feast of Stephen" is. This is the dinner and celebration that falls on the very day after Christmas, December 26th, or "Saint Stephen's Day." Celebrating this holiday is a part of Christmastide, and Wintertyders are encouraged to add it to their calendar for many reasons. First of all, the very day after Christmas, for many, provides an entry for the dreaded "post-holiday/Winter blues." Banish this possibility by continuing your Christmas Day celebrating right into the next day! For example, make your big ho;iday dinner a genuine Feast of Stephen by scheduling Christmas dinner for December 26th. Such planning frees up Christmas Day for nothing but fun without having to worry about dinner. Also, save a gift for each guest for Saint Stephen's Day, a small wren is the perfect gift:

Find these wonderful gifts by an Internet image search using "wren ornament." Now, then why the wren on Saint Stephen's Day? Because December 26th is the day for celebrating the "hunting of the wren," which provides good luck and fertility for the coming year. In the British Isles, the young men of the villages costume themselves as "wren boys," who hunt the wren:

Wren boys parading

The Saint Stephen's Day wren is the forebear of the English Christmas robin. Read here to learn more about how to make Saint Stephen's Day a part of your Christmastide celebration: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_King_Wenceslas

"Good King Wenceslas"

Happy Holidays 2014

You love Christmas and New Year's....so keep on celebrating! Wintertyde 2015 begins January 7th.

Make your own authentic paper snowflakes for Wintertyde

Making your own paper snowflakes is fun and an entertaining, and it's a useful skill to acquire. Simple instructions are linked below. True snowflakes have 6 points, and recall that the snowflake is the official Wintertyde logo. Once all the Christmastide decor is packed away until next year, decorate spaces with a snowstorm of your own paper snowflakes. Also, they're fun to pop into the envelope with your 'Happy Wintertyde' holiday cards. http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-6-Pointed-Paper-Snowflakes/

Music from Windham Hill for Solsticetide 2014

http://www.amazon.com/Winters-Solstice-Windham-Hill-Artists/dp/B000000NGH Check the video here: http://thecenterforthearts.org/windham-hill-winter-solstice-celebration/ "Solsticetide" runs for 4 days from usually December 21st through Christmas Eve December 24th.

Happy Winter solstice 2014 6:03PM EST

19th century engraving of the Norse Winter god Ullr Courtesy www.accuweather.com 18 days until Wintertyde Day, January 7th, 2015 "Solsticetide" runs for 4 days from usually December 21st through Christmas Eve December 24th.

Winter Solsticetide greetings

Courtesy NASA http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/20/winter-solstice-2014_n_6336518.html "Solsticetide" runs for 4 days from usually December 21st through Christmas Eve December 24th.

Contending with holiday "blues": Embrace Christmas and embrace Wintertyde

Here's a great article on pre-Wintertyde or "Christmas blues." We find embracing both Christmas and Wintertyde as if your life depended on it works wonders. Force yourself to get out of the house and go to Christmas events, shopping, concerts, movies, anything seasonal and embrace it. The more you fill your life with the spirit of the holidays, the less room for predatory "winter blues" to get you. Crank up the Christmas music 24/7, get a cat or pet to celebrate with and upon which to share the holiday gifts, watch a heartwarming film such as "Christmas in Connecticut," go to Christmas Eve church services, give a gift to the down and out and homeless. Even the small gesture multiplies love. Buy new ornaments for the tree, go ice-skating, bake Christmas cookies. Think "I can do this." We have stocking up for the cat and stuff it with cat food, toys, and treats! http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/19/health/surviving-holiday-blues/index.html?hpt=he_c1

The Wintertyde chickadee Recall that Christmas is a 12-day-long season, and Wintertyde starts January 7th. Stay busy with all the preparations! "You can do this."

Bathroom rework and something to care for

Christmastide 2014 is upon us. It seems to fly by as we're all having a good time. Hence, tempus fugit In any event, be wary of that "post-holiday blues" void just waiting after January 1st for most. A good solution is to follow Wintertyde, designed to move you through Winter via a structured format with certain protocols to be observed. The ideas is that by structuring the calendar, Wintertyde moves you through Winter to early Spring. After that, you're on your own. However, the good news is that January and February are over.

We recommend redoing your bathrooms with new towels, shower curtain, accessories for the new year 2015. Bathrooms are often a repository of strong feeling, so move them out of your 2014 Christmas mode and into the Wintertyde 2015 mode. You know what to do make make them "shiny and new."

www.duncraft.com Secondly, we recommend you install a bird feeder right outside your kitchen window or near a window you often look through. The location ought to be fairly close to a door as you will be adding food to the feeder....and, with a tiny bit of patience, feeding the Wintertyde mascot, the chickadee, from your hand. In Winter, they welcome the food and company, and they are endlessly entertaining and plucky companions to get tou through Wintertyde. If squirrels are an issue, use a squirrel-resistant style feeder. OK, there you have two projects to take up January before it's time to celebrate Saint Brigits Day on February 1st, a happy time. Check information on the black-capped chickadee here: http://blog.duncraft.com/2011/03/23/attracting-chickadees-2/ Search for chickadee-themed bathroom accessories on line by using the search term and "images."

It's celebrating Wintertyde to end post-holiday blues

Here's how celebrating Wintertyde helps banish post-holiday blues.... OK, the general excitement level increases each year in Autumn as we make our ways through the holidays: Halloween, then Thanksgiving, Christmas, and capping off with fireworks and champagne, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. January 2nd an emotional chasm opens as the full holiday season come to a skidding halt. Suddenly, there's nothing to look forward to except a seemingly-endless, 3-month long bloc of cold, gray, dreary Winter... Winteryde provides an alternative to the psychic abyss. Wintertyde has its own protocol of ways to celebrate old and new holidays, one small segment of time. Thus, a Wintertyder makes it through the Winter without noticing how long it is. For example, we are looking forward to putting up our Wintertyde tree and lights on January 6th, the evening of Epiphany. The next day is Wintertyde Day, so we'll put up our exterior and interior Wintertyde wreaths and then have a Wintertyde feast of hoppin' John, cornbread, and other treats. Next, we'll use the first 2 weeks of January to take care of business and mundane tasks...all the while preparing for February 1st and 2nd: Saint Brigit's Day, Groundhog Day, Candlemas, and even Superbowl Sunday... Look at the calendar, and January 2015 is already gone, and no one noticed. "We can do this." Become a Wintertyder now. Just follow the steps outlined in the Wintertyde blog!

Snowflake ornaments for your Wintertyde tree

The Green Man is always thinking ahead....especially for the immediate post-Christmas period. Recall that your tabletop Wintertyde tree should be ready to be set up either on Wintertyde's Eve January 6th or Wintertyde Day. Consider a dozen snowflakes as your "background" items and add single snowflakes, perhaps one or two per season to your tree. Your tabletop tree's base should be covered with a silver or white tree skirt with absolutely no Christmas ornamentation. Wintertyde is an independent season.

Kurt Adler 2" Glass Iridescent Snowflake Ornaments, 12-Piece Set www.amazon.com

Avoid "post-holiday blues" prepare for Wintertyde now

All minds are on Christmastide as it comes hurtling across the calendar. Nonetheless, make sure to devote some time to having all your Wintertyde ducks in a row for January 6th, Wintertyde's Eve. Here's a basic list: Exterior Wintertyde wreath ready to take the place of the Christmas wreath at the entry. Interior wreath ready to display Clear or white lights at the entry, if desired. Clear or white lights on window candles with silver accents. Snowflake ornaments ready to hang on your lighted tabletop Wintertyde tree. With these elements ready to go on January 6th, you can take a bit of a breather to get ready for Saint Brigit's Day

on February 1st.

Get your Wintertyde supplies as you Christmas shop

December is off to a quick start, so waste no time prepping for Wintertyde. Look for an LED light table top tree for your Wintertyde snowflake and holiday ornaments. Get silver and white picks for your Wintertyde wreaths, one inside and one exterior for the entry. Order your Saint Brigit's Day cross for your tree and wreaths, which go up on January 18th, 2015 (her day is February 1st.)

It's paperwhite narcissus for January this Wintertyde

"'Ziva' Paperwhite Kit in 12" woven basket, $69 Standard Shipping Included Paperwhites are easily grown indoors during the fall and winter season. Our large bulbs will produce clusters of pure white flowers above graceful, blue-green foliage and fill a room with their fragrance 4–6 weeks after arrival. You’ll find many ways to grow Paperwhites on our website, plus a how-to video and simple growing guide. For gift giving, consider this complete kit: 12 bulbs of Paperwhite 'Ziva,' potting soil, stem support, and a lovely 12" woven basket." Available from www.whiteflowerfarm.com

Maine coon cat becomes Official Wintertyde cat mascot

Like the chcikadee,the Maine coon cat was bred to withstand fierce northern winters in New England. The species is large, long-haired, intelligent, and highly personable. If you're considering getting a cat, make it a Maine coon, the Official Wintertyde cat!

http://www.maine-coon-cat-nation.com/index.html

A Maine coon cat ornament for your Wintertyde tree www.zazzle.com

Shop now for your Wintertyde 2015 supplies

To celebrate Wintertyde optimally, it's critical to make the big switchover to Wintertyde from Christmastide and New Year's on time. Perhaps most immediately important is to have your silvery, white Wintertyde wreaths ready for the front door and the interior by January 6th. Some Wintertyders make the switch on Wintertyde Eve, January 6th rather than Wintertyde Day, January 7th. In other words the exterior Christmas decor is gone and packed away 'til next year. In its place on January 7th are your Wintertyde wreaths, snowflakes in the windows, candles in the windows in silver, and whatever clear or white lights you want to use. The trick here is to make the house and home look uniquely "Wintertyde," and that means nothing that says "Christmas." The reason for the quick switchover is to eliminate any possibility of "Winter blues" setting in immediately after Christmas and early January. That being said, shop NOW for your Wintertyde supplies at places like Michaels and Dollar Tree. TGM buys all the silvery items for Wintertyde at the same time as Christmas items are available. Also, after December 25th, many of the Wintertyde supplies will be available at huge discounts. Be a smart shopper, and gather all you require. Also, some Wintertyders give a small gift on Wintertyde Day. These gifts are usually quite simple, inexpensive, and useful.

What to do on the final day of Wintertyde, March 6th

The Green Man's street-side Christmas wreath is now in place, so our holiday season is here. Hence, let's finish up our whirlwind tour of Wintertyde and all of its holidays. The final day of Wintertyde is always March 6th. Some ask, "Why not carry Wintertyde right up until the Spring equinox?" The fact of the matter is that by the time the first week of March rolls around, most Wintertyders are ready for a break from Wintertyde as they are now looking forward to Spring. Nonetheless, by ending on March 6th, it's time then to get up the Saint Patrick's Day decor for your celebration on March 17th. Next, the Spring equinox falls simply a few days later around March 21st, and you have made it through! Wintertyde will have completed its annual mission of helping you to fend off Winter blues and to enjoy a fun, organized, and structured Wintertyde season. To recap, use Wintertyde to move directly and speedily from your last day of Christmas into a new season on January 7th each year. The gap between the end of the holidays and Spring is filled with diversions and activities. Repeat the quick segue process on March 6th by removing all Wintertyde decor by that date. Then, on March 7th, all your Saint Patrick's Day decor goes up. Hence, there is no holiday gap at the conclusion of Wintertyde either.

Celebrating Saint David's Day

Unlike Saint Patrick's Day, the patron saint of Wales' day is not widely known in the USA. Nonetheless, this day, March 1st each year, is worth celebrating for Wintertyders as it falls between Mardi Gras and Saint Patrick's Day. Late February is a critical time as the Winter blues bug bites hard in these final weeks. Hence it's good to have a final Wintertyde holiday to prepare for and to enjoy.

Courtesy blueeyedennis-siempre.blogspot.com The basics of Saint David's Day is to prepare a meal with leeks, the Welsh national symbol. Here's the story: http://britishfood.about.com/od/festivecooking/tp/stdavidsday.htm

www.zazzle.com Decorations for your Wintertyde wreaths and tree might include dragon ornaments, a daffodil ornament, or even and leeks ornament if you can locate one:

www.zazzle.com Find more information about celebrating Saint David's Day here: http://gouk.about.com/od/whatsoninmarch/qt/St_Davids_Day.htm

Wintertyde Eve and Wintertyde Day gift-giving

Wintertyde Eve falls on the evening of January 6th, Epiphany. Wintertyde Day is always January 7th. These dates are the two by which your transition from Christmas to Wintertyde is completed. A thoughtful gesture is to give others a small, modest gift of some type for the Wintertyde season. Wintertyde gifts are usually functional, so items like scarves, hats, gloves are good.

Solar snowflake tree is perfect for your Wintertyde display

"Dazzling Snowflake tree stakes easily into the ground. Features bendable branches & 30 solar-powered lights. Runs on 1 "AA" rechargeable battery, included. Measures 30"W x 35"H, including stake with a 30"L cord. - See more at: http://www.collectionsetc.com" The Green Man recommends this handy and attractive solar/battery/corded snowflake tree for your exterior entry areas during Wintertyde. It reaches 3' although 6' would be ideal. Perhaps there's a way to attach 2 together for height. Meanwhile the 3-footer is good for holiday displays such as shamrocks, Saint Brigit's cross, hearts, Mardi Gras beads, etc....and a chickadee, of course. Get it here: www.collectionsetc.com

Celebrating Mardi Gras during Wintertyde 2015

Moving right along in our whirlwind tour of Wintertyde holidays, we reach April 17th. In 2015, Mardi Gras, amazingly, falls 2 days after Saint Valentine's Day. This concurrence makes for a busy but festive week of banishing any lurking Winter blues. OK, we start with decor. We get our supplies at Dollar Tree: a pack of Mardi Gras parade beads, a packet of King coins, perhaps a mask. Try to incorporate these items into your exterior and interior Wintertyde wreaths. Suspend the King coins from branches in the Wintertyde tree. Drape or suspend the Mardi Gras beads from the wreaths and the tree. All done. Familiarize yourself with these protocol items:

Courtesy www.mardigrasoutlet.com

Courtesy www.costumecraze.com

Courtesy www.photo-disctionary.com Mardi Gras cuisine is next with Zatarain pepperoni jambalaya, beignets {"bane yays"), coffee, and a king cake We make Zatarain's pepperoni jambalaya although rice and beans is good, too.

Courtesy www.zatarains.com

Courtesy www.cafedumonde.com

Courtesy www.betterrecipes.com For pepperoni Zatarain, stir in 1/2 package of thinly sliced pepperoni. Beignet mix can also be used to make a beignet cake rather than individual doughnuts. Finally, some music to set the festive mood: Some dixieland jazz:

Some brass band music:

some Neville Brothers:

All three albums available from www.amazon.com OK, that takes care of your Mardi Gras 2015 basics.