Welcome to the Christmas Counter Culture Series of Events
Christmas is a combination of many traditions which at their raw story lines on a page and the underlying theme is death and re-birth. As the days shorten then start to lengthen, fire is invited into the house to light it up so you can see your friends in all their glory while at the same time drive off distrusted spirits who are there lurking in the shadows due to some quirk of fate, mis-interpreted action but they are the reason you stand in line, on the line, keeping your traditions true and down the middle of the road. Beware, should you select, or get given a piece of coal during these events you are marked as one in which there is seen a need for improvement (Have you maintained all your caches in a timely fashion, for example) and it is givers of these pieces of coal we are celebrating.
As with all civilisations the current one takes what it wants from history and weaves it into the narrative of the fabric of the moment. These events will be no different. It can be difficult bringing a select few of the Shadowy Winter Soldiers from other cultures and Bedfordise them to suit our fun and games as we transition across the old year to new, from the dark days to those with a kernel of additional daylight hours and share the feast our house has to offer. These figures know how to party hard and depense the fun with the grief, do not over pronouce on someone, or Odin The Allfather will be hauling you over the haunches of Sleipnir tossing you to one side with coal wedged in your mouth. . . . or Frau Perchta may put a coin on your forehead as you sleep for ensuring your first handmade woollen stockings were up to standard, do not think about that hole that nearly appeared in them and what that would have brought - - - - A flavour of what is being asked over the festive period.
HORROR
Setting the scene - The Event Shelter is the festive cave, the fire pit warms the entrance, ready to welcome passers by and the Shortest Day has just passed and more light and heat is sought for the next feast, we do not want to tend the fire while feasting and drinking is under way. Let us find a big log, a tree trunk and haul it home and hope it burns for the entire festive period, lets all sign it to indicate to others who made the effort. We are all here to watch "The Icelandic Yule Lads" bring over the mighty bough for our fire to consume. The upside is they keep us warm for the evening and maybe longer, the downside that they are a mischievous bunch of 13 Brothers who will leave the main burning log and a swag bag containing a thought from each of them for those who attend without bringing a signed faggot of wood to add yet more warmth and light to the event. Those who fail to keep to the pact will be expected to have judgement passed upon themselves by selecting one of the 13 Brother Boxes and reading aloud their thoughts about the transgression - For example, "Your dwelling will need a window closing everyday until the 2nd Jan because someone keeps leaving a window open" not a good thing in a cold country.
Tradition, that is what it is all about, rosey red, beaming smiles, lots of gifts, roaring fires, HO HO HO (OH NO this was meant to be about the darker side. . . .)
A Geocaching Sign, We are always looking for one! Newcomers, to spot this hovering on the table so you know you are in the right place
A Non Flamible Log Book for those who want to record their presence at the event
A Table for the Travel Bugs for discovery or swaping
A Table for your offering, IF you are joining in the theme of the event, there is absolutely no three line whip to do so.
If you think the 13 Brothers might have some interesting takes on not joining in then do not let their mother Gryla catch you. Mother is has spawned 13 versions, is she 13 times as challenging, you can ask for her pronouncement on your failure come up to standard if brave enough. . . . . for the lucky few who can establish the boys fathers name and call on him you might be able to convince him you are worth clemency, dim witted I am told, you take your chance. . . . . .