A winter advent
My toolkit for feeling better through winter.
Hello, I’m Rachel. I write about nature and creativity to encourage connection and wellbeing. This is one of my regular posts about marking the seasons, to read the others go to my homepage and click on the marking the seasons tab. To find out more about this publication go to this post. It’s another longish one today!
I love Winter and I love Christmas. But… yes, of course, there is always a but and I think winter comes with a but for everyone. Christmas too I guess. So much to enjoy, yet so much else that is… stressful, hard, sad, overwhelming (insert feeling here).
This year, it’s harder than any before, the first without my Dad - who loved Christmas and the first where I fully understand my chronic health issues and the juggle of trying to manage them. The awareness that while the cooler temperatures ease some symptoms, the lack of light and the urge to hide under blankets makes other aspects worse. What I do have is much more awareness, of myself and what I can do (blankets are still important).
Even without that, many of us are in the midst of the madness/chaos which is the run up to winter festivals. Capitalism and the avalanche of seasonal advertising aside (especially in the UK/USA), December is a time of festivals, for many religions and those simply marking the seasons. This year, Hannukkah starts on 25th December so joins Christmas and Yule. We are in a period of Advent - linguistically this refers to the arrival of an event, not just 25 chocolates hidden behind cardboard doors.
Even if you don’t celebrate one of these religious festivals we are in the advent of the returning of the light (in the northern hemisphere). The Winter solstice this year occurs on 21st December at 9.21 GMT (see The Greenwich Observatory webpage for more on this) after this, minute, by minute, daylight lengthens. That deserves a celebration, doesn’t it?
Celebrating a time of advent isn’t about wishing away the days to the big event, but adding to it. It fits perfectly with my aim to be part of what is happening here and now. Despite struggling with some aspects of winter and Christmas, I don’t want to wish it away and magically arrive in March.
So I’m using nature, a few of the more ancient winter traditions, and some of the pockets of joy to be found online to bring some structure, light, and joy. Maybe they might help you, or someone you know too.
Noticing natural wonders helps to ground me in the present season, but more is needed in these darker days. And that is precisely one reason why, throughout the history of mankind, we’ve adopted rituals and traditions. Many people decry others putting up decorations ‘early’. But what is early? Yes, at some points in history, Christmas decorations only went up on Christmas Eve, further back in time, winter celebrations went on for weeks, just without the pressure of commercialism making it all about spending money.
So here’s what I’ve been doing to bring some seasonal joy
A Christmas tree. It’s only little, perched on my Mum’s old trunk next to the TV, but draped in lights, garlands, and decorations from throughout my life it not only brings joy when I turn on the lights, but the whole process of getting and decorating it turned the start of Advent into an occasion. Combined with more fairy lights (a winter essential as far as I’m concerned) and I have a cosy twinkly living room.
Homemade decorations. I moved into my house just before Christmas many years ago. I didn’t have much money but decorating was a priority once the boxes were unpacked. So out came the paper, scissors, and thread and those garlands come out every year. More recently, I started making paper snowflakes to decorate my windows. Here’s one from 2020 when I took part in the neighbourhood advent window trail. I was particularly proud of it, this year’s one isn’t so elaborate but still brings joy! Here’s my Pinterest board of DIY decorations if you want to try something yourself.
Homemade door wreath I’ve been making a wreath for my door for a few years. It first came from my love of making pompoms which led me to make pompom door wreaths.
This year I wanted something more natural and while I could have gone for a traditional evergreen foliage, a zap of inspiration gave me the idea of just using my beach finds. Thanks to Storm Bert, the tide line gave me lots of treasures so half an hour with a glue gun and an embroidery hoop and this one now adorns the door.
But it doesn’t have to be elaborate, you can just forage some ivy and holly (safely and appropriately), some cut offs from the Christmas tree, maybe a few berries or rosehips and twine them together. You can buy a natural base if you want, or old clematis vines work well. As
said in this post - not being a perfect circle is perfect!
So that’s the decorations, and while they bring lots of joy into our homes (especially the fairy lights - have I mentioned the fairy lights?) more is needed. A quick list that doesn’t need expanding on - blankets, hot drinks, hot water bottles, wool socks, a decent coat, soup, roast potatoes, Christmas films, Christmas/winter themed music. I must mention The Snowman by Raymond Briggs - book and film - it is what winter is for as far as I’m concerned.
Daylight SAD lamp During the great anticyclonic gloom a few weeks ago (see this post) I really really struggled. I’d already found the dark evenings harder than ever, I think as a teacher I got outside much more and when I was well I did more outdoor activities. Although there were other factors, my wellbeing plummeted that week. So, we got a Daylight lamp. These are special lamps that deliver up to 10,000 lux of beautiful diffused light (same as a sunny day). I now start each morning drinking tea in front of this lamp. It’s hard to know exactly what impact it’s had, but I think it’s helped. I seem to be able to get going quicker (a regular issue for those with ME/CFS) and feel better emotionally. We got one from Beurer (not an ad) as it is classed as a medical appliance (not all are). It really shows how dark and grey it can be in the UK.
Getting outside I had to say this didn’t I? It’s what this publication is about! But it’s true, just a short walk, or just standing on the doorstep to get some natural light can do so much, add in some nature noticing and you’ll get an added boost. We may not be able to make Vitamin D in the UK in the winter but the psychological effect of fresh air and nature, then the physiological effect of movement, even a slow 5minute walk whatever the weather can help.
Community This is important at any time of the year, but in winter we are more likely to stay home and cosy under blankets. Again - nothing wrong with that, but we are social beings, we need other people and no amount of social media can make up for real contact. One of the big things about leaving teaching was the contact with others. Yes, Christmas in a primary school is one of the most stressful times of the year, but I loved (nearly) every moment of it, joy in abundance. Now, I know I have to replace that sense of community but find a balance that won’t exhaust or overwhelm me - hard and I haven’t achieved it yet. My fabulous Salty Seabirds swim gatherings (who also have a substack) are part of my weekly timetable, even if I don’t dip, I know I will always find friendly faces on the beach. Getting into cold water with others is such a bonding activity, full of smiles and shrieks and you get to chat huddled together with tea after! I have found some wonderful online communities and while it’s not quite the same, it has added so much.
’s soul circle and her beautiful seasonal live writing sessions bring such joy, calm and creativity. Some very unexpected writing ideas came out the most recent Winter one - more of which you’ll hear about in the new year. The Sparkle on Substack run by is one of the reasons I’ve achieved so much with my publication this year, and the support and cheerleading makes it stand out from similar communities. We had an online 'Christmas party’ a couple of days ago - something most of us self-employed people miss.Marking the days This year, probably because of Substack, I’ve found a plethora of alternative advents, many of which we can join in with. All cost and consume nothing. They are a wonderful way to mark the days, encouraging us to slow down, notice, participate and be part of something bigger than ourselves. When I was a teacher, we joined in with the Action for Happiness kindness advent which was lovely. There’s
’s Dawn Advent bringing a beautiful photograph into my inbox each day. Beth Kempton is giving us a thoughtful prompt on her substack notes each day (also on her Instagram) which I really must get back into the habit of doing. is doing a 12 days of Gratitude challenge (started on the 12th) in her substack chat which has already given me pause for thought. is doing a writing advent - simply pledging to write every day of the Christmas Advent. Again, I meant to join in, but I haven’t - yet. So, if like me, you like the sound of some of these but haven’t because, well - life, it’s not too late to join, we might just do it one day and not the next, and that’s ok. Others I might start after Christmas - because January needs an injection of joy just as much as December. I’m sure there are many other things like this - maybe share them in the comments?
So, thank you for reading, I’ll leave you with this little Christmassy Wintery scene from my mantlepiece and say Seasons Greetings.
Love the Pom-pom wreath! How did you make it? 💚
Thank you for all the inspiration. I loved your Christmas windows and the door wreath. So beautiful.
I love getting out into the landscape with my camera. There is nothing like a photowalk in nature to make the dark days of winter seem a little brighter.