My Ear's Like A Red, Red Rose

Happy Burns Night! January 25 is the birthday of Scottish bard Robert Burns, when folks around the world hold dinners in his honor. Though I have never attended one, I understand they follow a standard order and involve eating haggis, drinking Scotch, and reciting his poems. They traditionally end with the singing of Auld Lang Syne, which he wrote.

Although I have a few other potentially appropriate, Scotland-related earrings, for Burns Night, I have chosen the red, red roses pictured. Why these? In honor of the following Rabbie Burns poem:

O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That’s sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

In a Pickle

I consider performing holiday rituals to be a key element of my witchiness. However, I think New Year's is possibly my least favorite holiday.

Don't get me wrong - I have had some very nice New Year's celebrations. I went to a lovely formal party at the turn of the millennium. A few years ago, I rented a great big beach house with a coven of friends. And I may have had or attended an okay party or two. But in general, there is just something off about the holiday of New Year's. ...