Father Time

Another
New Year.
Old Father Time
ticks on by without
rest.

© Elizabeth Leaper

Christmas Dreams

May
all your
dreams for Christmas
and New Year come
true.

© Elizabeth Leaper

This post also appears today on my blog at By the Wobbly Dum-Dum Tree.

Simply Elfje is now taking a short break. I hope to see you again in the New Year.

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Cusp

Janus,
looking both
backwards and forwards;
cusp of the New
Year.

© Elizabeth Leaper

I would like to wish all my readers a very Happy New Year.

You can also read this post today on my other blog, ‘By the Wobbly Dum-Dum Tree’.

First-Footing

First-
footing with
lump of coal,
bringing in the New
Year.

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This Elfje refers to the tradition of ‘First-footing’, mostly associated with Scotland and the Northern Counties of England. Last thing on December 31st the Old Year is let out of the back door of the house and then, after the strike of twelve midnight, someone (preferably a dark-haired man carrying a lump of coal) brings in the New Year at the front door. People would often go door-to-door ‘first-footing’ and being supplied with food and drink! In our house, if we are home for New Year, I send my husband (unfortunately now grey-haired) out the back just before midnight. He picks up a lump of coal and I let him in the front just after midnight where I greet him with a glass of sherry, a mince-pie and, of course, a kiss!

________________________________________

Today sees the start of the January Mindful Writing (Small Stones) Challenge. Although this Blog is taking part and despite today being Tuesday there will be no changes to the usual pattern – I will only be posting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (today is an exception, being the first day) and there will be Elfje submitted by other writers in amongst my own, so please keep those submissions coming in. I will be posting a daily Small Stone on my other blog “By the Wobbly Dum-Dum Tree” which you can find here.

To find out more about the January Challenge, and how to take part, click on the icon in the sidebar.

Season’s Greetings

Season’s
Greetings to
all my readers
and a Happy New
Year.

_____________________________________________

I am taking a break over the Christmas period so this will be my last post until January 1st 2013 when I will be joining the January Mindful Writing Challenge. I hope you will join me again then.