Tis the Season! Celebrating Hannukah with the Klezmatics 'Woody Guthrie's Happy Hoyus Hanukh, ' the Solstice with an old favorite by Dar Williams, and celebrating Christmas with a She and Him Christmas.'
What a fun, poignant and sweet album this is-- lyrics by Woody Guthrie and music masterfully done by the Klezmatics (who, but the way, are in concert at Swallow Hill tonight (December 10th). Hanukkah begins at sunset on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, and ends at sunset on Wednesday, December 28, 2011. I love their rendition of the Hanukh Dance. Happy, Joyous Hannkkah!
Klezmatics performing during the Klezmore festival 2008
http://youtu.be/vkMM68HM5k4
Technically, the Winter Solstice is when the sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees, and when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. It is one of the two times each year that the Sun is at its farthest point from the equator and appears to stand still. This year we can celebrate 'the return of the sun' in our hemisphere on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 05:30 (or 5:30am) Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) , or 12:30 A.M. EST, 10:30 PM MST. Blessed Be!
As the light dwindles in the Northern Hemisphere, there are may traditions that celebrate with festivals of light, here is a glimpse of two in this classic by Dar Williams.
http://youtu.be/t_KiHRHwaAs
She and Him have released a delightful Christmas album, with Zooey Deschanel and M Ward taking more of a traditional route.
This holiday favorite takes a bit of a gender twist...
http://youtu.be/iigfts-sJFg
