As has been the case numerous times in recent years, I jetted down to Greene County Sunday night for the annual Catskill Winter Solstice Stroll. It really has grown into one of my favorite holiday events, one that is reliably scheduled for 12/21, regardless of day of the week, each year.
I admire the pluck in committing to a date and not yielding to a day of the week.
We arrived at just about the same time as sunset on the longest night of 2025. I parked the Mini and we approached Main Street from above, taking in the lit tree, barrel fires and the closed to vehicles road. We walked, sipped complimentary warm cider and shopped as a fire juggler performed and witches danced in the street to Hazy Shade of Winter.
Looking for a light meal, we stopped into Phos for a bite to eat at the bar. The lemon chicken soup was exactly what I was craving – flavorful, bright and silky with its generous swirl of olive oil glistening. The other items were sampled were also beautifully prepared and delicious.
After our meal, we continued to wander in and out of shops, sometimes being greeted by live music such as ukulele orchestra or 3 piece bluegrass band. It was festive and celebratory and I found myself smiling, warmed from the inside out. There was no jostling or harsh voices. Instead, the mood was relaxed and celebratory and people were simply nice.
See you there, Monday, 12/21/26.
I’m not one to jump on many cultural trends – I’ve got no Pinterest, no real TikTok, no Labubu. But something came across my social media feed last weekend that inspired me to join in. Although there are a few versions of this ritual, essentially, one writes down 12 statements or wishes for the new year on individual slips of paper. Fold them up and then randomly pull one each night for the next 11 nights. Once drawn, without looking at the note, dispose of it by burning it or tearing it into tiny pieces. On New Year’s Day, one slip will remain and that will be your focus for the new year. The other 11 items will have been released to the universe and no longer are your tasks to manage.
Something about this trend really appealed to me and I’ll be packing my slips to take to Italy to fulfill the ritual. Speaking of Italy and the New Year, I couldn’t be more excited to welcome 2026 in Rome. As a person who has spent the majority of their New Year’s Eves working, I’m a bit at a loss as to what I’m actually going to be doing when the clock strikes midnight, but I’m game to let Rome show me what she’s got. I’m ready.
DelSo 