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Red Oak Grove | & | Cernunnos,
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Alban Arthan
or
Yule
Come enjoy a weekend of fellowship and feasting, caroling, a Yule
Tree, homemade decorations and treats, games, stories, hikes in the
woods, an awesome Midnight Ritual and an all-night Vigil to await the
return of the Sun during this darkest Season of the Year.
We will celebrate the Season of Darkness and mystery as we look
forward to the Light and re-dedicate ourselves to our Gods.
This will be a special time to re-connect with our community, make new
friends and get better acquainted with each other. This is the most
relaxing Festival we hold all year and is many people's favorite.
We plan on presenting a Past-Life Regression Workshop, and sometime
during the long night, we will be Channeling the God Cernunnos and
seeking His guidance.
All reservations must be paid in advance by Dec. 13th to guarantee a
place.
On Saturday, we will have a continental breakfast, after which we
will hike in the woods to collect pine cones, pine boughs, holly
sprigs, and other appropriate items to make decorations. Some of us
will go out and get a large Yule Tree, and we'll decorate it
together. (Feel free to bring a few of your favorite decorations to
donate, especially anything old-fashioned or hand-made.)
Our traditional Seasonal Celebration begins at Sundown, when we hike
out to say farewell to the Sun as He prepares to take His longest
voyage of the Year. As the last rays of fading radiance wash over
us, we ignite two lanterns to symbolically capture the light.
We will return to the Lodge, light 8 candles and spend the rest of
the night in ever-increasing darkness as we extinguish one candle
each hour to symbolize the fading light and warmth of the Sun during
this cold, dark Season.
Our Main Ritual will begin at 11:30 PM, culminating in total darkness
~ and then the miraculous return of the Light! From then on we will
re-light one candle each hour until Dawn, symbolizing the ever-
increasing light which blesses us after Yule.
Each candle ceremony will be accompanied by a short prayer and a
different mini-feast. We will literally be praying and feasting all
night long! (Plus singing, joking, chanting, gaming, telling stories,
playing, talking, and anything else you want to do.)
The all-night vigil is voluntary, of course; you can go to sleep
whenever you wish. But many of our previous guests have enjoyed the
challenge of staying up all night, and the unique opportunity to
really talk and connect with each other.
At Dawn we will have 8 candles lit again. Whoever is still awake
will go outside to greet the Sun on His triumphant return. We'll
toast Him with Champagne and then go back in to sleep (finally!)
We'll sleep late on Sunday and then have a light brunch before
heading home.
This will be the sixth year that Red Oak Grove celebrates Yule in
this very beautiful and meaningful way. In 1998, The New York Times
featured this Festival in an article about modern Pagan Yule
celebrations. If this sounds as wonderful to you as it does to us,
we cordially invite you to join us for this remarkable event.
You can reserve your spot now by clicking on the tree at the bottom of
this page, and filling out the form there.
May you be filled with joy and the Spirit of magic in this very
special Season!
The Festivities
Most of the food will be provided and prepared by either Red Oak Grove,
or the camp's kitchen staff. However, Friday's dinner will be Pot Luck;
please bring somethingg tasty to share. Otherwise, all you need are a
sleeping bag and a festive attitude!A Yule Gift for our Friends
The cost is $60 per person, if paid in advance, and $75 "at the gate."
This is the most expensive event we hold all year. But the Lodge and
prepared meals cost us that much. We don't make anything.
In fact, it costs the Grove some money each year -- but it's
worth it!The Festivities
We will start on Friday evening with a Pot Luck Supper (please bring
a covered dish to contribute), followed by good conversation and song
around the fireplace. Every guest will receive a special booklet of
Yule Carols, collected from various Pagan Bards and musicians. This
booklet is yours to keep.Please!!!
Reserve your place early
There are a limited number of bunks in the lodge, but we might extend
our guest list to include a few more guests, if people who register
late are willing to sleep in the common room. So register early to
guarantee a bunk... or to guarantee a place at all.
Yule registrations...
Reserve your
place now!For more info, send us an
Red Oak Grove