Home> Yule

Yule
and The Shortest Day

Friday December 17th - Sunday December 19th, 2010
A  Solstice Celebration,
The Pirates’ Gift Exchange and
an Extravagant Yule Tide Dinner
         
Members $35, Guests $45
R.S.V.P. if you please.

A Celebration of the Winter Solstice
   Saturday Ceremony, then feast and revelry,
The Pirates’ Gift Exchange.

    Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
'Tis the season to be jolly!
Don we now our gay apparel,
Toll the ancient Yule-tide carol.
    See the blazing Yule before us;
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Follow me in merry measure
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
    Fast away the old year passes.
Hail the new year, lads and lasses.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Heedless of the wind and weather.
    Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

        Yuletide at Four Quarters is the sacred time when far-flung tribe gather together and warm embraces vanquish the chilly nights. It is the celebration of birth and of re-birth. The voices of children ring in the clear night air, the stars are impossibly bright and so are our eyes. It is right and proper that one of the greatest of the European holidays of light and life be held in the dead of winter. For it is at such a time, with your kin gathered around and a cup of steaming cider in your hand, that your blessings are easy to count.
        No religious tradition can remain alive and vital without good folk to keep its traditions, and no tradition kept by good folk can ever die. Yule, more than any other holiday at Four Quarters is the celebration which honors the good folks who are sustaining the old ways and making the new ones. On this, the Winter's Solstice, we are balanced, lightly but firmly, between the ancient past and the far-flung future.
       We celebrate the rebirth of the Sun, we light the Yule log, exchange kisses under the mistletoe, and we feast. Ceremony, the beloved and silly pirates’ gift exchange… keeping an eye to the old ways, but rooted in the heart of the present folks who gather in the Stone Circle to celebrate the Solstice.
       Our Chalice is overflowing! 
       And somehow there is always room by our hearth and in our hearts for more, so come and share a Solstice, a holiday, a feast of hand and heart and spirit. An old holiday with new friends, good ceremony, fruitcake optional.


       Real People, Real Traditions,
           Real Community.


       

Yule 2009 Schedule
What’s Going On?

Join us Friday Night
for a Mulled Spiced Bardic Circle!
Stories, poems, songs, and other seasonal entertainments around the woodstove. Beginning around 8pm.

Saturday Mid-Day
    Lighting of the Yule Fire. Bring your hopes, your intentions, and your spiritual cobwebs. Supplies will be available to create a small craft item to burn and carry your message aloft.
    Gathering of the Greens – bringing the outdoors in. An expedition into the deep, dark woods for greenery to decorate the house and/or Loft
    Craft Time! Making decorations for the Yule Tree! Salt dough ornaments, popcorn, cranberries…
    Singing Around the Piano with Kit. The tune is familiar, but do you really know the words?
    Trimming the Tree… with all those decorations we made earlier!

Saturday Evening
Yule Ceremony in the Stone Circle – be sure to dress warmly!
The Return of the Light
The Feast
The Pirate Gift Exchange – who can ARRRRgue with that? Just bring a $10 wrapped gift for your fellow Pirates. Our Pirate Captain will explain your part when it comes by!

Sunday Morning: Continental Breakfast

Our 2009 Yule Feast is Presented by Pamela and Ariel Alexander with Catharine Whiddon. We will post the menu shortly.

Our Yule Feast in 2008
Presented by Rosalie Kunsman

Tasty Cup Of Sun King Soup
Tossed Salad featuring Romaine Hearts/Fresh Baby Spinach; topped with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Roast Goose with Mushroom and Water Chestnut Dressing
Baked Spiral Ham with Natural Savory Juices
Mashed Potatoes featuring Yukon Dusty Rose Potatoes
Mashed Yams
Greens Beans with Almonds
Braised Brussels Sprouts with Almond Butter Sauce
Homemade Cranberry Relish
Home Baked Dark Mother Bread/White Dinner Rolls
Nut Tray/ Relish Tray
Finish with a Delicious Dessert of Home Baked Pumpkin Roll topped with Rum Raisin Sauce
German Chocolate Cake
Wash this all down with Traditional Wassail Or Your own libation


Join Us In The Morning For A Continental Breakfast:

Assorted Bagels served with Cream Cheese
Home Baked Sweet Rolls Filled with lemon, blueberry or cream cheese
Chef's Silver Dollar Pancakes served with warmed syrup
Yogurt with Granola and warmed fruit topping
Coffee, Tea, Orange Juice.

         We will have ample heated sleepover space for all, allocated on first come-first serve. Please, do RSVP or register online if you will be staying over. Just bring your bedding, your warm clothing, something for the little donation box if you can spare it, but mostly let your heart come to Four Quarters for Yule.

         Children under 16 are loved, cherished and free.

        Members $35, Guests $45 
        R.S.V.P. if you please, will ensure sleeping space.
        Feel free to call ahead with questions,   814-784-3080.  



We are closer than you think, 100 miles and less than 2 hours from Baltimore-
Washington Beltways. About 2 hours from State College, Pitt's, Harrisburg and Harrisonburg VA, 3 hours from Philly and Wilmington, about 6 hours from NYC, Columbus and Cinn. OH.

Register for
Yule with our OnLine shop

Registration by Credit Card on-line
or by calling our offices at 814-784-3080.