It is 0608 zulu, the exact time of Winter Solstice. Happy Winter!
Beautiful clear here, bright moon, no aurora unfortunately though it might appear later tonight
Oh, and it is actually above freezing!
Then we gathered around the Yule tree, some people also have a Yule log, or both. The Yule Tree is often lit up with candles on Yule but ours was with lights and the log is decorated and later burned. It is customary to exchange Yule gifts and to make wreaths, and to hang mistletoe over doorways, but we ordered pizza and watched Notting Hill. The altar, if you have one and other areas of the house can be decorated with holly, mistletoe, evergreen, pine cones, ivy, berries, and ribbons. Also, holly and mistletoe represent different things: Holly is representative of the "holly king," the king of the waning or old year, and the mistletoe is representative of the "oak king," the king of the waxing or new year. BTW this is the Pagan ritual for the solstice and is very old. It is one of the sources and basis of how we celebrate Christmas.1 cup butter
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/3 cup. flour
1 1/2 cups grated almonds (blanched)
1 tsp. vanilla
Icing:
2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 T. water
Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy and light. Add grated lemon peel, salt, flour, grated almonds, and 1 tsp. vanilla; mix thoroughly. Place dough in bowl. Cover and chill thoroughly. When dough is well chilled; or next day, roll out dough to 1/8" thickness and cut with moon/crescent cookie cutter. Place 1/2" apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
Icing:
While cookies bake, combine confectioner's sugar, vanilla and water. Spread over tops of cookies while still warm, but not too hot as icing will melt. Thin with additional drops of water if glaze is too thick. Don't drink too much scotch while baking or the recipe can be ruined and you'll have cookies like Tony
Allow cookies to cool. Yield: 10 dozen cookies.
