In Palmer we are not afraid of the dark

It’s the darkest week of the entire year. We are heading down to the shortest hours of daylight. In the Palmer mornings we see 2 or 3 or 5 different slow sunrises as the sun slips behind mountain tops and pops out intermittently between the ridges. It’s an uncanny performance and—even if you have lived with it for 50 years—it turns us all on our heads. This week is particularly important because in just one week, we get to reverse that trend. Oh it will be subtle increases of light, but the pendulum of weather and light will have swung to the other side. Our planet will begin to tip back to the light and the deliberate change in axis is a delightful thing to recognize with Solstice.

How Do We Celebrate the Dark?—In Palmer, twinkly lights are everywhere. Christmas decorations reflect and resonate the lights. Bonfires and campfires are a big deal, even in the back yards. The Menorah on Main Street burns beautifully. The new and beautiful nativity scene glows warmly at the intersection. Lampposts are festooned with holiday cheer. Walkers, runners and bikers are lit up, along with their dogs. They wear lights and reflectors and reflective tape and collars. Candles are in many windows. All of these lights scare away the darkness. And there are fireworks, the biggest exclamation point of light celebrations.

Solstice Plans in Palmer—Private Solstice Light parties are planned with enough distance to keep things safe. Good warming foods are prepared along with party music. Ice lit luminaries, icicle flash lights, frozen glowing bubbles, a large fire (and perhaps some performance art applauding the seasonal shift), fireworks, sparklers, torches, lanterns, and interesting light sabers symbolically cut through the darkness. We are so fortunate to see this phenomena in Palmer; our bonfires and Solstice parties are genuine in our appreciation.

Palmer Yule—This old Yule tradition is celebrated with soups and sun cakes. Some eat dark chocolate and hearty stews. Some people in Palmer dress up in semi-authentic Nordic costumery and stride through town— as cool as all that. Large burn-piles are saved up all year and built specifically to burn on Solstice eve. If you have lived elsewhere than Alaska, perhaps Winter Solstice was a nonevent. But it is an event in Alaska. This event harkens back to the prehistory of colonization. Frankly, it’s my favorite private holiday where we gather together and yell and cheer for the sun to come back.

The Dark—We know that the dark is temporary. We accept that it heals. Sometimes it does us well to just stand still and absorb its significance. Instead of jovial jumping around party style, we can simply walk in to the dark woods and experience the shortest days and what they mean to us. This quiet retrospective walk is almost a prayer and always a rich moment of awareness.

Palmer Award for Holiday Lights—There are many lit exhibitions all around Palmer. It warms us to see twinkly light in the darkness. Thanks to all the folks who have spent time and money creating these displays. In nearly every neighborhood is that ONE house who is lit to the hilt. In the outer-lands, the large house near the Matanuska River Bridge is a continuing example of celebratory cheer, every single time one drives by it. Typically— this is a very dark area of highway and to have this luminescent reminder of grand light is a gift to all of us. The Napa blue and white trees on Arctic are wonderful. And the welcome Christmas tree, out on the Glenn Highway is a special wonder. Thank you.

Saturday’s Spectacular Palmer Parade—It was the best Winter parade ever! Floats, Santas, Nativities, horses, bikes, dogs, trucks, tractors, snow machines. All showed up with brilliant energy and lights warmed it up. Big thanks to the socially distanced and safe crowds, participants, and organizers of the festivities in Palmer this weekend. And a huge and grateful thanks to the lighting of the Water Tower and the Runners of the Beers.

Chanukah Lighting—The annual Chanukah celebration is Wednesday evening at 530 pm. It is the large menorah lighting ceremony in the Palmer Pavilion. There will be joy and yummy treats. It will be followed by a fireworks show.

Jolabokaflod—This lovely book and chocolate celebration starts this Friday at 203 Kombucha. To participate you bring a book and some chocolate for an exchange on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. It is an Icelandic tradition, which has been happening in Palmer for several years, thanks to Fireside Books and Vagabond Blues. This year it is at 203 Kombucha, a perfect place for joy, peace and reflection at this tender time of year.

Next Week is Christmas Column! Until then, stay safe and Happy Solstice!

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff on the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net