Day Five
The Day of SilenceThis is the day. The Winter Solstice. The shortest day of the year. The only gods honored on this day are Hades and Persephone. Candles are left cold and incense is not lit. This is a day to mourn those who have passed and to hope the King and Queen of the Underworld welcome Helios into their realm, if only briefly, that he may rise again in glory.
This day should be spent in quiet meditation. Music and other forms of entertainment should either be eliminated, or kept to a minimum. Wine and other alcoholic beverages should only be consumed if a chthonic rite in honor of the King and Queen is being performed.
For many, Yule celebrations will be in order, belonging to broader Pagan communities. My suggestion is to bring some of the solemnity of this day to those rites by writing a poem or prayer to the King and Queen, and reciting it for the Pagans in attendance.
While solemn and quiet, this should not be a truly sad day. Those who have passed have brought joy to us in life, and we should remember them for that. The Gods who destroy also bring new life. We should remember that.