15th Annual Winter Solstice Spiral Dance 2009

15^th Annual Winter Solstice Spiral Dance 2009 presents:
“ A-Wassailing ! ”

Saturday, December 19, 7 pm

Willits Grange, 291 School St.

The 15th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration will have a choral theme this year. The spiral dance will occur at the end of the evening as always. This year we are blending our annual event with the Vocal Jazz Ensemble performance piece holding center stage.

“A-Wassailing” is a mock contest between peasants and nobles, set in Olde England.  The medium is the Christmas carol–the audience will be the judge!  Two groups of singers from the Vocal Jazz Ensemble will take part, one singing classical and the other folk-based carols from across the centuries and continents.  The more experienced classically trained “nobles” will set the bar very high.  The “peasants” have youth and enthusiasm on their side.  Both groups have a unique collection of carols, many of which will be new to you. This is the final performance of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, a class from Mendocino College (Willits Center) taught by Don Willis, who also created the concept for “A-Wassailing.”

Join us for a romp thru time, from medieval sacred music to modern jazz, as we celebrate the turning of the Wheel with a caroling ‘sing-off’ of peasants vs. nobles. Be prepared for a wild, entertaining ride!

This is a benefit for the Grange Remodel Project. $5-10 at the door.

A Solstice Celebration in Willits – The Importance of Community Traditions

14th Annual** 2008 Winter Solstice Celebration & Spiral Dance

“WEAVING OUR FUTURE”

December 21st, 2008 – 7pm

at Little Lake Grange

291 School St, Willits

*******
A celebration of midwinter with an evening of songs, dance,
theater, candle lighting, and a drum jam!
***
Bring the family, drums, rattles, and an offering for the Food Bank
~~~

This year we bring our community focus onto children and our future.  Our celebration  performances will include “SPACE’s Feat of Freedom Dance/Theatre”, Children’s Mexican Folklorico, The Muse Children’s Theater, Hope, Harmony & Legal Advice, “Anda Jaleo Flamenco”, Rhythm Tonic Dancers, and the West Side Woolleycats and more!

Suggested donation of $5-10 for adults, families $10.

email abweller@pacific.net or  call 459-4499 for more information

**I am not even sure if the year as mentioned (14th?) is correct, as this tradition has been going on for so long – it might even be 15 years!

The point of this post is to remind us all of the importance of the yearly cycles of the seasons – even as our ancient ancestors marked the sun’s path and length of days for reasons of weather and agriculture, or for their own nomadic changes, we might do well to begin to note the natural cycles as a part of our return to nature- our own bio-logic consciousness…our shift into a new way of being…solar values, community celebrtions bringing deeper relationships, and so much more!  Create your own local celebration – or model it on ours….join us energetically as we honor the Sun’s return on December 21st!

Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time.