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sabotabbyI am drowning in unfinished and partly finished tasks so this will not be as detailed or vivid as my usual solstice descriptions. Also I have very few good photos because my hands were occupied and I didn't have a proper camera, so you'll have to make do with blurry impressions, I'm afraid.
The Longest Night was cold as balls, but tradition is tradition, and actually more of my friends made it out than is usual. We had the lanterns I made and they went over very well, which meant that basically we got drafted into the parade itself. There were new giant puppets (one in particular that I'll comment on in detail) and for the first time in years, the fire sculpture has returned to Alexandra Park. Giant puppets and lanterns are very important to me, but is it really solstice without a big art project that people worked very hard on getting lit on fire? I don't think so, and the fact that this happened again feels hopeful for the year to come.
There were definitely more giant birds than before, though the Pride Bird has been around for at least a few years. There was a new raven from last year (with very cool wing effects) but I didn't get a picture.
A blurry picture of the owl with some of the Indigenous puppets behind it. There were also two giant beavers who were dancing, a rat, some suns, and the caribou, which you can see in previous posts. New this year was a fox spirit dancer (at least I haven't seen them before) who had tremendous energy, though by the end of the night they said they were ready to pass out.
Lots of fish! One of the fish that is generally on a pole and stationary was on someone's backpack and looked very cool.
One of my friends also made a last-minute jellyfish, which looked amazing.
The frog dancer is also new, or at least I hadn't seen them before.
My favourite new puppet was a Mari Lynd, which again, I don't think I'd seen before. I wasn't able to get a great photo of it but hopefully from these blurry ones you can get an impression.
It had an articulated jaw and tiny skulls for teeth.
But wait! There's more! It could smoke out of its eyes and mouth:
In this picture you can see one of the fish and, in the foreground, one of the lanterns I made.
Here's a better view of the lantern.
I'm hoping to have better pictures to share that other people took, as it was pretty well photographed. I do have one of me thatrdi took but this is a public post.
You can get a decent idea of the vibe (and how the fish and Mari Lynd looked in action!) in this video, if you have Instagram.
This post has photo and video of the Fire Finale.
As always, it was a beautiful night, and it looks like the sun is up, so we did a good job.
The Longest Night was cold as balls, but tradition is tradition, and actually more of my friends made it out than is usual. We had the lanterns I made and they went over very well, which meant that basically we got drafted into the parade itself. There were new giant puppets (one in particular that I'll comment on in detail) and for the first time in years, the fire sculpture has returned to Alexandra Park. Giant puppets and lanterns are very important to me, but is it really solstice without a big art project that people worked very hard on getting lit on fire? I don't think so, and the fact that this happened again feels hopeful for the year to come.
There were definitely more giant birds than before, though the Pride Bird has been around for at least a few years. There was a new raven from last year (with very cool wing effects) but I didn't get a picture.
A blurry picture of the owl with some of the Indigenous puppets behind it. There were also two giant beavers who were dancing, a rat, some suns, and the caribou, which you can see in previous posts. New this year was a fox spirit dancer (at least I haven't seen them before) who had tremendous energy, though by the end of the night they said they were ready to pass out.
Lots of fish! One of the fish that is generally on a pole and stationary was on someone's backpack and looked very cool.
One of my friends also made a last-minute jellyfish, which looked amazing.
The frog dancer is also new, or at least I hadn't seen them before.
My favourite new puppet was a Mari Lynd, which again, I don't think I'd seen before. I wasn't able to get a great photo of it but hopefully from these blurry ones you can get an impression.
It had an articulated jaw and tiny skulls for teeth.
But wait! There's more! It could smoke out of its eyes and mouth:
In this picture you can see one of the fish and, in the foreground, one of the lanterns I made.
Here's a better view of the lantern.
I'm hoping to have better pictures to share that other people took, as it was pretty well photographed. I do have one of me that
rdi took but this is a public post.You can get a decent idea of the vibe (and how the fish and Mari Lynd looked in action!) in this video, if you have Instagram.
This post has photo and video of the Fire Finale.
As always, it was a beautiful night, and it looks like the sun is up, so we did a good job.
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Date: 2025-12-22 04:19 pm (UTC)I'm very familiar with the Mari Lwyd tradition as Huw's been a Mari for thirty years. It's closer to drag than anything.....
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Date: 2025-12-22 05:27 pm (UTC)The lantern looks so good in that last pic!
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Date: 2025-12-22 06:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-22 05:46 pm (UTC)Mazel tov! I've been enjoying the sun here, so I appreciate it.
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Date: 2025-12-22 06:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-23 11:54 am (UTC)Which was, to riff on your quote "hot as balls".
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Date: 2025-12-23 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-23 02:23 pm (UTC)Maybe the 'pagans' do? I've never come across anything major for either.
Def in summer, it's too fucking hot (will be 41C on this Christmas).
I do love your lanterns, though.
We don't really do lanterns, ever, because of fires. Various lantern parties (water, floating, sky) get shut down quick. Even in winter.
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Date: 2025-12-23 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 11:47 pm (UTC)But, for some reason, my brain goes to fire.
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Date: 2025-12-23 01:24 pm (UTC)Great work, team! <3 (And it all looks wonderful.)
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