Event celebrates winter solstice

MICHAEL BURNHAM, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published December 21, 2001

OLYMPIA -- Hundreds are anticipated to gather on the Capitol Campus tonight to celebrate the winter solstice.

Today is the shortest day of the year, and it marks the beginning of longer days and shorter nights.

This year's solstice event will include a somber twist.

Beginning on the Capitol Campus near the state Conservancy Building, a "Walk of Remembrance" will wind down a trail toward Capitol Lake. The gravel path will be lit with Tiki torches dedicated to local firefighters and Medic One personnel.

"For me, the solstices are the two real Earth Days," said Eli Sterling of Earthbound Productions, which is coordinating the event. "It reminds us that we're on a planet, and it's an opportunity for us to step back from our human drama and consider what's really at stake."

For the past eight years, Olympia solstice revelers have translated the naturally occurring event into an earth-friendly message.

A family-oriented program with dance and musical performances, "Sister Sun and Sister Storm," begins at 6 p.m. inside the Capitol Rotunda.

With the help of the Hands On Children's Museum, young people will be asked to construct a "chain of intention." Children will scrawl their wishes for the new year on the paper chain links.

The community solstice program begins at 7:15 p.m. inside the Rotunda and features music and dance depicting the elements of earth, fire, water, air and spirit.

"If you want to take the esoteric and place it in a way that people can understand it, you act it out," Sterling said.

That's where Daniel Whitehouse and the four seasons come into play.

Draped in a bright blue cloak with Celtic designs, Whitehouse will represent the spirit through spoken word, song and dance.

Each actor representing the elements will relate them to life, art, nature and history.

"It's about earth, and it's about our connection to the community -- with all living things," said Whitehouse, an Olympia artist.

Solstice organizers have woven Norse, American Indian, Celtic and Tibetan customs into the evening.

Adults will be asked to write their new-year intentions on white cloth, which will be burned in a boat later during the evening.

"We've kind of created something that's uniquely Olympia," Whitehouse said.

Added Sterling: "This builds up a connection simply by witnessing each other."

The "Walk of Remembrance" begins its lighted path toward Capitol Lake at 8:30 p.m. Celebrants are asked to carry a lighted candle along the path toward the lake.

Four trays of sand will sit at the water's edge.

Modeled after a Tibetan ritual displayed in 1999 at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, participants are asked to write their new-year intentions in the sand, clutch the words and toss them into the water.

"It's symbolic of releasing your intentions into the new year," Sterling said.

Here comes the sun

Winter solstice -- the longest night of the year -- occurs on or about Dec. 21 every year.

Winter solstice celebrations are rituals with pagan roots. During a time when people relied on the sun for agricultural purposes, ceremonies were performed to encourage the return of the sun.

The summer solstice on or about June 21 marks the longest day of the year. (No plans have been made to pray for rain in Olympia.)

Each of tonight's programs is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Earthbound Productions at 360-705-1087.

On the Web:

- NASA: Seasons of the year

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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