© Lauren Baxter 2021.
The longest night of the year can only mean one thing: Night King begone, it’s time to throw an outrageous party. But why not get on brand and make it a solstice soiree? After all, it falls on a Saturday (22 June) this year. Your guests will love that s-s-sibilance. Don’t know where to start? We’re here to help. Embrace your inner druid, throw off the shackles of your mortal being and fall deep down our midwinter rabbit hole. We promise YULE have a great time. Drinks, finger food and themed puns provided.
Food For Thought
While Yule celebrations in the Northern Hemisphere might be strongly linked to traditional Christmas feasting, we’re in no way advocates for a Christmas in July-style meal here. Get your abhorrent jumper out of my face, Susan. But you know, in the spirit of warming the cockles and getting into the merriment (not because we are alcoholics or anything), we recommend copious amounts of mulled wine and a hot, spicy ale called wassail. On the food front, cooking up a thick slab of meat-on-the-bone seems appropriate. Or maybe a suckling pig. Get primal, baby.
The Naked Truth
There’s a bunch of midwinter traditions from around the world, but nothing that quite screams solstice party like getting your kit off. Every year, the otherworldly delight that is Tasmania’s Dark Mofo honours the winter solstice with a bare-naked romp in Hobart’s River Derwent. It’s normally a brisk one degree Celsius but that’s all part of the fun. Something, something, health benefits, something. In the spirit of honouring tradition, we hereby declare it’s not an official solstice party without some good ol’ fashioned skinny dipping. Sorry, we don’t make the rules. Not near a body of water? No worries! Invest in a paddling pool; fun for the whole family.
Come On Baby, Light My Fire
One quick google of winter solstice party ideas and you’ll be smacked in the face with wholesome Pinterest boards about making candles and lanterns and shit. And while that might be suitable mood lighting for the unfolding shenanigans, it’s go big or go home here. Burnt offerings have a long and crispy past but we don’t have time for a history lesson now so just light a bonfire and trust us. Besides, after all the skinny-dipping escapades doesn’t cosying up by those roaring flames sound just delightful? Crowdsource some marshmallows, construct a wicker man, listen to the words of our lord and saviour, Jim Morrison.
Cut The Cackle
A seance baby. WICCA WICCA WHAT. It’s an attempt to contact the dead. We’re not really sold on the whole idea to be honest (SHUN THE NON-BELIEVER), but it seems like a fun time. Turn it into a drinking game, play a prank on your most gullible mate, watch the hilarity unfold. Iranian, Celtic, and Germanic traditions say the solstice is when all kinds of evil spirits come out to play – and not the alcoholic kind. But hey! It’s a party. As long as they are down, the more the merrier we say.
Kramp My Style
In our extensive research to help you plan the best party, like, ever, we came across the “half-goat, half-demon” creature that is Krampus. Central European folklore suggests this weird dude comes out at Christmas time to eat bad children. And while we’re all for that scenario, the origins of Krampus actually come from an ancient pagan ritual where town folk dressed up as the mythical creature and paraded through the streets to disperse winter’s ghosts. With that in mind, we reckon we’ve got a two birds scenario here. Get your guests to dress up like Krampus to both dispel those ghastly ghouls and scare small children. It’s win-win!
Rise And Shine
Whatever you end up doing this winter solstice, there’s no better way to end the night than by watching the sunrise. The point of all this death symbolism isn’t to freak you out… It’s to embody rebirth, or so we’re told, and nothing really says rebirth like the dawn of a new day. Whether you’re stumbling out of a club, going on an early morning hike and putting us all to shame, or surrounded by mates at the solstice party of the century, feel the wholesome solar energy surge through you. Oh wait, nope, that was vomit. The hangover is setting in.
Original article: The Music June 2019 Issue