Advent Calendar of Cards Day 22 (2016)

And another card inspired by the news of the day. The lettering was screened over an image of flames in photoshop. The quote is by Susan Cooper from the fifth book of her The Dark Is Rising series (wonderful children's books that I encourage you to read if you have not). Susan Cooper's poem "The Shortest Day" has been a mainstay of the Christmas Revels and an annual tradition in our house. It is now a beautiful children's book illustrated by Carson Ellis.

The Shortest Day
by Susan Cooper ©2014

So the shortest day came
And the year died
And everywhere down the centuries
of the snow white world
Came people
Singing
Dancing
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees
They hung their home with evergreens
The burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new day sunshine blazed awake
They shouted
Reveling.
Through all across the ages
You can hear them echoing behind us.
Listen.
All the long echoes sing the same delight.
This shortest day,
as promise wakens in the sleeping land,
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
this year and every year,
Welcome Yule.