Seasonal Alter – December/Yule

For my December seasonal alter, I have included several items of note:

1. Poetry and Winter Imagery – From my Robert Frost’s Seasons book, which includes poems and nature photos for each season, I have displayed a winter scene (one unlikely to be seen here in Texas, so there is some nostalgia here), as well as Frost’s poem, In Winter In The Woods.

For your enjoyment:

In Winter In the Woods by Robert Frost

In winter in the woods alone
Against the trees I go.
I mark a maple for my own
And lay the maple low.

At four o’clock I shoulder ax,
And in the afterglow
I link a line of shadowy tracks
Across the tinted snow.

I see for Nature no defeat
In one tree’s overthrow
Or for myself in my retreat
For yet another blow.

2. Christmas tree – A simple Christmas tree card holder (sans cards) is a simple addition to the alter. It doesn’t overwhelm the aesthetic, or center the display on Christmas, but firmly includes it in the celebration.

3. Woodland animals and birds – A reminder that not all animals hibernate for the winter. Many (including us!) are still active.

4. Seasonal plants – The smell of cinnamon and dried oranges is enough to evoke images of late fall and winter, and long, chilly evenings.

5. Yule log – For the centerpiece, I decorated bundled birch limbs and decorated with cedar branches, dried oranges and waxed red leaves. Candles will be added to the log at Yule.