Spread good cheer!

Please, go forth and spread good cheer to everyone. Seriously. Enough of us have seasonal disorders, stress about the holidays, and illnesses (not to mention crappy coworkers) that we could all use a pick-me-up.

In particular, I would ask that all of you who read my journal hop on over to my friends list and post good wishes to my friends.

(Particularly thesigother who isn't feeling well, allura629 who is feeling justifiably cranky, and alienne who is feeling... uh... alienated. Also, bradhicks who is right on the edge of sanity and security.)

Oh, hell. Just run around LJ saying nice things to everyone. Come on, it won't kill you to put the snark away for once.

Happy St. Nick's Day! More on that in a minute!

Saint Nicholas and the Solstice Fairy

I've teased you long enough. Here's the first installment of the Santa Series.

I should start by explaining that I believe in Santa. I believe in the man, the myth, the legend. I recognize his symbolic value, and I perform his rituals every year. Santa has magic for me still. The next installment will be about the Secret of Santa Claus.

This one is about an obscure tradition that I still keep alive.
( Advent, St. Nick, and The Boot )

See, Santa comes to my house. If you leave out a boot or a shoe on St. Nicks' Eve (or even the evening of St. Nick's Day) you will find gifts in it in the morning.
IF you hang a stocking at my house, and you are a pagan, The Solstice Fairy will leave you presents in your stocking. If you are a celebrator of Christmas, then on Christmas Eve there will be gifts in your stocking.

(The first year that the Solstice Fairy was the first time that Alienne had a stocking at my house. She came over on the solstice, and I pointed out that her stocking was full.
"But Santa comes on the 24th!" she said, somewhat puzzled.
"Yeah, I know. But the Solstice Fairy comes during Yule."
"Ah." She said, and started to go through her goodies.
"Actually," I said, "It was Santa in a tu-tu and gossomer wings. He told me he was the Solsice Fairy and that was his story and he was sticking to it."

This legend has grown, and when Alienne told my father about it he fell out of his chair laughing.