#happysolstice

[disaster-march]

Some scholars believe that we’ve finally found the origin of Santa Claus, and it’s “shrooms.”

Amanita Muscaria is native to a large swath of the northern hemisphere, including the snowy regions near the Arctic circle in Siberia and Scandinavia. There, they are popular with some of the locals - reindeer are enormously fond of the mushrooms and seek them out regularly with no apparent ill effects, beyond a little drunken reverie. Their affection for the mushroom did not go unnoticed by the indigenous groups that herded them, and they found that bits of mushroom could be used to lead a deer wherever their shepherd needed them to go. 

It would be reasonable to assume that the reindeer’s fondness for the fly agaric is what inspired ancient humans to first try them, or maybe they were just seeking out another food source amidst the largely-barren landscape they called home (incidentally, the mushrooms actually can be used as food- parboiling removes the toxic and psychoactive effects). In any case, the mushrooms made their way into the cultures - and specifically winter solstice celebrations - of several communities of northern natives (the Sámi, Koryak and Kamchadal people were mentioned specifically in my sources, but dozens of groups of people existed in this region at the time, so it’s likely that everything being reported here is a bit of a mishmash of practices from across the north.) 

The stories go like this: 

The fly agarics were commonly found surrounding the bases of pine trees. To dry the mushrooms and prepare them for consumption, the shamans and healers of these ancient communities would either lay the mushrooms across the pine boughs, hang them from the branches, or place them in socks which were hung near a fire. 

In some places, people preferred to have their mushrooms “pre-filtered” by the reindeer - drinking the urine of a deer who had eaten the mushrooms would give you all the hallucinogenic effects, but less of the toxicity. (The reindeer, for their part, were known to eagerly chow down on the “yellow snow” left by any human who had eaten the mushrooms, and one wonders how many times the psychoactive chemicals could be passed back and forth in such a manner.) 

On the solstice, the shamans would don their red-and-white Muscaria-colored garb (be it polka-dotted or fur-trimmed) and their tall, blackened reindeer-skin boots, and head out to the pine trees to collect their dried mushrooms in a sack (or harvest a little reindeer pee.) They’d return to their yurt, where the village elders and other important community members would be gathered. Because of the height of the snow, they may need to resort to coming and going through the chimney hole in the center of the yurt’s ceiling, rather than the door. 

Once settled in, the shaman would consume the mushrooms (or mushroom-laced wee) and set off on their trip, during which it was said they could turn into animals and fly through the night sky towards the North Star, to consult with the tree of life (a large pine) that grew near the North Pole, in order to gain solutions, wisdom and foresight to address the community’s problems in the upcoming year. Then they would return, bearing gifts of wisdom and answers for their people, who would ply the shaman with food and drink (and perhaps partake in a little ‘shrooming themselves, whether directly or via the shaman’s urine.) 

Some sources claim that there was a belief that those who consumed the fly agarics would come to look like the mushroom - plump, round, and red and white. 

You can see, I’m sure, where all this is going: 

A magical man, plump and decked out in red and white, coming down the chimney with a sack of treasures. Energetic reindeer leaping around their pastures; visions of flying through the sky to the North Pole and returning bearing “gifts”. A pine tree trunk surrounded by bright red and white treats, with more goodies hanging in the branches or in socks by the fire. 

Read the rest (and see some weird Victorian Christmas cards)

[karmacanary]

[catencode]

Orion's Belt followed by Sirius (a+B) at 2100 located in line from the East. #HappySolstice https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmsj5xmNhfkxNcSKbVednHXM8L4OMJbHk2SYpc0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[countrysideframing]

Merry Christmas @countryside_gallery #santa #merrychristmas #hohoho #chriscringle #jollyoldsaintnick #elf #happyholidays #saintnicholas #haveacoolyule #fatherchristmas #xmas #newtownsantahouse #newtownsanta #happysolstice (at Countryside Gallery & Custom Frame Design) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmmpDylJIGZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lanreobey]

Thinking about the ppl I know serving their 18 plus holiday in prison. I look forward to the dey y’all can experience this family life...with matching pyjamas.❤️💯 . . . Here’s a toast to y’all eventual freedom. Just stay focus and positive fam.🙏 . . . . #freedaGodz #longwalktofreedom #happysolstice #27thletters #27thletterspodcast https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmmc8_ipQeK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bigtreedelusion]

Happy Solstice everyone❤️. #happywednesday #happysolstice #happywinter #goodnight (at Arcata, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmdAM8XLgPo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bonemother]

Blessed Solstice! Tonight is the long, dark night, the death of the sun, and the beginning of the return of spring! May your homes be warm and your pantries be full! . . . . . . . #yule #solstice #wintersolstice #longcoldnight #happysolstice #blessedyule #yuletide #winter https://www.instagram.com/p/CmclAK2veFO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[kcdoriangray]

#happysolstice Here come da storm! #battendownthehatches #bundleup #snuggleup Hoping #westlakeacehardware isn’t sold out of firewood 🙏🏼 https://www.instagram.com/p/CmcfBG9uqw_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[arat02-blog]

On this Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year, we are grateful for the light that community, friendship and love brings to all of us. Cheers to you, our Dexfam! {missing @mikennamarcum } ✨✨✨ #happysolstice #dexterity #dexfam #indexbydexfam (at Nona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmcEdVfPkLs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[artanissnow]

A compilation of Grinch. Enjoy his naughtiness 🐈‍⬛ #grinch #grinchthecat #catmom #crazycatlady #catlady #catsofinstagram #catsofig #happysolstice #saturnalia #happysaturnalia #merrychristmas https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmacfxsrx_F/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[laartparty]

#thankyou #for #coming #out #lastnight to the #santamonica #mainstreet #holiday #event #theoffthejinglebeklrockers #had a #great #time #asalways #happyholidays #merrychristmas #moreinfo on LAArtParty.com #happyhanukkah #happysolstice #happykwanzaa (at Edgemar Center for the Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmCnOyivupz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[cindylacolla]

Here are all the new greeting cards this year. I wasn't entirely ready walking into stores and hearing christmas music already, but here I am... sharing my holiday cards. Maybe I can do everything early this year - including my own holiday cards. That's always the goal. Hope you are having a good November so far. . . . . #greetingcards #greetingcardlife #cynlacards #holidaycards #holidaze #holidaysarecoming #happyholidays #happysolstice #happychristmas #christmasmusic #timeflies #cynlaholiday (at Hudson Valley, NY) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck50YYMO7Vf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[catencode]

Orion's Belt at 2100. #HappySolstice https://www.instagram.com/p/CmsjBS6N6U_iVpKNQfE4fMuVS9HQyUltIjti740/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[countrysideframing]

Peter Max @countryside_gallery #santa #merrychristmas #hohoho #chriscringle #jollyoldsaintnick #elf #petermax #happyholidays #saintnicholas #haveacoolyule #fatherchristmas #xmas #newtownsantahouse #newtownsanta #happysolstice (at Countryside Gallery & Custom Frame Design) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmko4DRLJYi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[kikiskitchenwitchery]

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lunarmagicteatimeWe are back after out little illness break and we are using the #elementalpowertarot The #cardoftheday is the #sixofcups Trust your gut... know your own emotions and trust that your higher self will guide you. And #happysolstice

For the tumblr loves: I don't know... I feel sometimes like this deck just wants to fight me. I have tried to dedicate to studying it. But it feels slippery. Not all decks work for all people

[thetouringtest]

It's the Solstice. A day of quiet, dark, and reflection. . #wintersolstice #happysolstice #midwinter #solstice #quebec #northernquebec #northernlights #auroraborealis