The Winter Solstice Celebration had a celebration of its own this year -- the fifth year that this ritual in song has been performed by the SpiralSong Feminist Vocal Ensemble. Using A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual by Stasa Morgan-Appel and Julie Middleton, the performance was co-produced by the Pagan Arts Initiative, a project of DVPN.

The ritual combines songs, spoken words, and narration through the experience of building a ritual space, descending into the darkness, and returning to the light. The frame is the story of Kore (Persipone/Persephone) -- her journey to the Underworld, her mother Hecate's grief, and then her return to the light. At the climax of the ritual, the singers come into the audience and start lighting candles that were given to the audience earlier. Each audience member lights his or her neighbor's candle, and then, as the time comes to finish, the candles are collected and brought to the center in a display of moving light. Expertly led by music director Jennifer Sheffield, the singers keep the energy level of the audience flowing through the end, when both singers and candles exit the hall.

The group returned this year to two of their favorite venues in the Philadelphia area: the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County on December 16, and Chestnut Hill United Methodist on December 21, the solstice itself. Each performance drew about 75 audience members, including church congregation, local Pagans, and fans of the celebration. At the performance at the UCC Delaware County, the singers received a surprise visit from Stasa, who moved away from the region a couple of years ago. The first performance was narrated by PAI exective producer Franklin Evans, and the second by J.J. Van Name, who brought a special magic to the circle of candles in the center of the chapel.

The members of Sprial Song and the PAI would like to thank everyone who helped to support the production, the wonderful staff at the UCC Delaware County and Chestnut Hill United Methodist, and the audience members who came and lent their energy to the events.

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