#Midwinter Night

[schwarzwaldcr]

Lore Canon 003

Midwinter Night is one of the biggest celebrations of the year throughout Schwarzwald.

Happening around the winter solstice, when the days are shortest and the nights are longest, Zoners and stalkers alike tend to come together to celebrate the turning of seasons and a new year going forward with each others’ company. The only time of the year that all active hamlets are seen from the lofts of the Crags, as bonfires, light strings, and lanterns are in vast quantity and light up the darkened canopy through the holes above them. Each hamlet celebrates it a little differently, of course, but the feeling of togetherness in the darkest times is universal. Whether it is with big feasts or flamboyant cultural expression or daring feats of equestrian prowess with trained Fracture Eaters, the feeling of having family and friends close makes the longest night seem shorter.

Central, of course, is the largest of the celebrations, held for nearly a week leading up to and the week after Midwinter Night. Featuring food and drink and culture from all around the Zone, it hosts the coming and settling of the Merchant’s Guild, leading into the holiday season of Merchant’s Mass. The climax of their celebrations include a local dancer’s corps accompanying a flock of brilliantly-lit musically-trained Ships in the harbor as part of their Dance of Lights, a very loud request to bring the day back against the night.

All celebrations lead into the new year with a different and more somber tone, however. While gift-giving to friends and family is not an intrinsic part of the Midwinter Night celebrations in the same way other winter holidays do outside the boundaries of their Zone and more toward personal preference, it is customary to give the best of goods as thanks to the Schwarzwald herself for continuing to keep them safe and secure, for providing for them throughout the year previous and asking the same for the coming year.

[emihotaru]

Hey! do you like Christmas fluff? Dreamling? Teacher Hob? Writer Dream? "Ghost stories"? single dad Dream? widowed single dad Hob? pets? christmas cookies? snow storms? and cross over with Good Omens? Well, our first chapter is here!

it's cosy, it's teacher Hob and writer Dream, it's bookseller Aziraphale and baker Crowley, it's Orpheus and Robyn are best friends, it's sweet, it's hot, and it's gonna be a long ride!

Please, tell us what you think about it, it's our first fanfic together and for this fandom and we're very stressed^^;

And yes, I'll do some art for this story!!

[naturistgirl]

HAPPY NATURIST MIDWINTER

I write on the Eve of the year's longest night. This is the turning point of the natural year, one when nature seems to all but stand still. In the Wild Wood near our home, all seems quiet bare and still. It is as though the earth holds its breath while gathering strength. Still there are signs of strong and vibrant life. The holly trees are green, glossy and magnificent right now; the females laden with scarlet berries. Ivy glows in its shiny glory, its flowers giving way to the slowly ripening berries. By January they will turn glossy black. The Yew trees stand guard, wearing a darker green. There are blue tits twittering in the thickets as they hunt for food. High winds are forecast this weekend and the strong breeze will naturally trim the branches above us.

Now is a time when the ancient Celts mourned the loss of sunlight and looked forward to nature's rebirth. At this time of year, people have always headed into the abundant woodland to forage. Clothing was certainly optional. So it is for us too. I might wear a coat if it is near freezing but little else. People gather those fallen branches to fuel their winter hearths and keep warm. They gather green branches too to cheer their homes. All is at should be and we wander naked among the trees, enjoying the little light there is right now.

I am a person of faith, though not a Christian. I am a mother and appreciate that for some, this is a time to welcome a baby's birth. I brought my own first born into this beautiful world in cold January, not long after this time. New birth always brings joy to everyone, and for a new young Mum as I was, contentment. Your baby rests on your belly in full view where before she nestled inside you. Her little mouth searches for your breast and she imbibes life. All this is done naturally. You are naked, she is too. You will wrap her to keep her warm later but for now you are both as the creator intended you to be: No shame, no worry about clothing, just you and her.

For me and my faith, this is a time to recollect when our liberty was threatened, when the right to be who we are was denied. On the night of the 25th, we light one candle and celebrate our freedom; freedom to be who we are. Each night will see a new candle as others join in that celebration. We eat the produce of the earth; frying potato pancakes, and drink the fruit of the vine. As a naturist I am all too aware of threats to liberty and the right to express who I am. Like the turning of the year when we reject the idea of death and affirm life, I reject those who project shame onto me for being naked. For a woman, it can be tough. Men can tend to see your naked body as their property. They see your nakedness as flaunting something which is theirs by right. There is a tendency to sexualise you and see you as a loose woman. I am my own and my body belongs to me. I belong to my husband as much as he belongs to me. The union of naked female and male is a perfect balance of forces. We lean back and our partner supports us. In a great relationship, that balance is effortless and strong. My body then is without shame, perfect and wonderful. There is no need to cover anything. Certainly not my breasts or my vulva. Why would I want to cover or be ashamed of something that brought my precious and beautiful daughter into the world and why would I want to cover the means by which I fed her?

With my husband, we decorate the house for Christmas in a Dickensian fashion. Our house was brand new when it welcomed Christmas in the 1862. Just 19 years before, a 31 year old Charles Dickens published 'A Christmas Carol'. It captured the public's imagination with its depiction of Scrooge and the spirit of the season. Though I don't keep Christmas personally, I support my husband by celebrating this joyful time. Likewise, my husband joins in my celebration of Chag Urim: The Festival of Lights. We will celebrate life, being naked and the joy of being free. Everyone gets one gift for eight nights. This year our two festivals coincide; the first time since 2005. However and whatever you celebrate: The Solstice, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Christmas, anything else, or just The Season to be Jolly; we wish you the best of times and the most wonderful of holidays.

Since you have read this far, you are almost certainly a naturist or at least naturally inclined. You don't need to read further. Happy Holidays! Please like and repost with our blessing. Do remember however that the text and images remain our copyright. While you go and do that, I have words of warning below the next picture, for others who aren't like us.

For those of you who didn't bother to read or were simply captivated by my naked body, not naturism, I have a new message. I am getting weary of seeing my posts shared on your sexualised blogs. By doing this, you totally misunderstand naturism. Naturism celebrates the naked lifestyle and not just sex. I absolutely adore sex but It is just one beautiful aspect of being naked, not its sole purpose! So from this point onwards, if you have a weird and empty blog with a name like 'hardon1969' or similar; if you just repost naked girls; other naturist's creative work and don't post your own - I may just have to block you, sorry. You will certainly also be blocked if you send sexualised messages and images of one tiny part of you! (you know what I mean) Do me a favour. Get naked in 2025. Post affirmative images of yourself on your blog. Better still, write something inspirational about naturism too. Make sure you also post an avatar that is actually you and not an icon. Be brave, be yourself and enjoy a Bright Nude Year!

Jane x

[thequeerofdelphi]

My Beloved altar on this long Winter Solstice night 2024

[midwintermasque]

Dahlia Daydreams

The King's mistress and the Sovereign Duc meet among the dahlias. What lies before them now? How else could their story have ended?

Read the full post on The Longest Night Blog!

[intertexts]

iss passing :]

[doriandistortion]

I can’t remember what my mom looks like and no one will tell me why there’s blood on my shoes

[rickrobb58]

A blend of Imbolc, St. Brigid’s Day, and Groundhog Day.

[raulesparzascheerleader]

oh my goodness! i found it! :)

the video does include a Catholic Mass. i love how much his faith shapes who raúl is as a human being. his rendition of "in the bleak midwinter" in this video absolutely floored me. his singing brings me peace. 💙

[emihotaru]

I made a banner for our Christmas fluff Sandman/Good Omens fanfic^^

I hope you like it^^

Leave us some comments to tell us what you think about it! It's our first fanfic for the Sandman fandom! We're working hard on chapter 2!

And I'll do some art about it soon!!

[severalpossiblemusiks]

Part 2 here

[midwintermasque]

A Fallen Mandrake

The Adventures of Terre D'Ange return with our blog posts continuing the stories of Aliks and Petrea, Rosanna and Roland, and Odilia and Gustav!

Check out a sneak peek from our newest blog post below and check out all of the blog posts HERE on our website!

Officially, Mandrake House closed its doors for three days of mourning. Unofficially, it would be more than a week before the adepts began entertaining patrons again. For two days after Waldemar nó Mandrake’s passing, Aliksandria was inconsolable. She shut herself in her room and refused all food. On the third day, she emerged in a black gown and attended his funeral.

At the funeral, Aliks sat next to Dowayne Kali nó Mandrake, in the seat usually reserved for the deceased’s wife. She had no legal claim to it, as they were not married and had not even declared each other consorts, and yet no one begrudged her the space of closest family member. The service was overseen by Priests of Elua, as was customary. Afterwards, when everyone left, Aliks stayed in her seat. Only Petrea remained, supporting her oldest friend.

As dusk began to settle, Aliks rose and looked at Petrea. “You should go to Mandrake House, give Cereus’s regards.”

“What? I should go? Where are you going?” Petrea asked, shocked.

“There is somewhat I need to do, and I must do it alone,” replied Aliks, and she left, walking to the carriage and leaving.

Aliks didn’t go to Mandrake House. If she had she would have seen her lover’s flogger laid on a silken cushion in his honor. She would have heard the adepts talk with grim merriment about their lost friend. Likely, she would have been deep in her cups, and she certainly wouldn’t have been alone in that...

~~~

Read the rest of A Fallen Mandrake post on our website and don't forget to buy your tickets to the 2025 Longest Night Midwinter Masque!

[shekelesh-z]

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A post shared by Matty Jordan Antarctica (@mattykjordan)

come si prenota un volo per l'antartide? in europa già si muore di caldo

[team-frightfur]

(Theyre also blushing but i cant figure out why). Both Kenzan and Johan are more focused on Judai tho, which could either be bc theyre both gay for him or cause this takes place post s4 (so theyre happy to see Jou enjoying life again after his depression). Then you have Fubuki and Asuka in the corner. Fubuki is doing his standout uncoordinated cloudcuckoolander bit by not wearing blue/black/white/yellow like everyone else (get with the program, man!) Instead he's going for that... christmas ensemble? With the rare red....tho now I see it, there's also judais pants and the coke bottles and the red cups and oh my god it was a red/blue/green/yellow colour scheme all along. ANYWAY, while Asuka is more serious with her modest clothing and walking boots, she has this small smile. Like, clearly she's not super duper ecstatic over his dumbass ukelele serenades, but she'll humour him today of all days, not just because it's a special day but because she looooves having her brother back.

Final verdict: this pic honestly just gets better the more you look at it. It makes me wish i had synesthesia just so I could taste the cozy hot chocolate vibes. Like its truly utterly immaculate. Kudos to you for all time!!!