❄️ The Darkest Night ❄️

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The kids were heading home after sledding — tired, rosy-cheeked, and quieter than usual 🛷
Frost nipped their noses, and every breath turned into a little white cloud that vanished right away. Snow crunched softly under their boots ❄️👢

They stopped under an old streetlamp. Its light flickered and barely pushed the darkness away.

Sofay tilted her head and squinted.
“Is it broken? It barely lights anything.”

May smiled.
“Maybe it’s just tired,” she said.
“Did you know tonight is the darkest night of the year? Tonight, Yule begins 🌑✨”

Al frowned thoughtfully.
“Is that… like a really old Christmas?”

“Almost,” May said.
“But it’s even older than Christmas. Yule is an ancient winter celebration that begins on the longest, darkest night of the year.”

They started walking again, boots crunching in rhythm.

“People used to be afraid,” May continued,
“that the sun might never return. So they lit fires 🔥, gathered together, and brought green branches inside 🌲 — to remind themselves that life was still there.”

Stefan zipped his jacket up higher.
“That sounds kind of like a fairy tale.”

“It is,” May nodded.
“That’s when people started telling stories.”

Sofay’s eyes widened.
“What kind of stories?”

May glanced at them.
“Have you heard of the Yule Lads?”

The boys looked at each other.

“Like… gnomes?” Al guessed.

“Almost,” May said.
“There were thirteen of them. Each had a strange habit. One peeked through windows 👀. One stole sausages 🌭. Another slammed doors in the middle of the night.”

Stefan laughed.
“I’d be the door slammer.”

Sofay giggled.
“I’d peek through windows.”

“In those days,” May said,
“children left a shoe by the window. If you were good, you might find a small gift in the morning 🎁. If not…”

“A potato?” Al said, remembering.

“A potato,” May smiled 🥔

“That’s like Advent!” Sofay said.

“Yes,” May nodded.
“Advent grew from stories like these.”

They passed a dark shed. Snow creaked softly around them.

“And above the Yule Lads,” May said more quietly,
“was their mother — the giantess Grýla. And her huge Yule Cat 🐈‍⬛, who punished lazy children.”

Stefan made a face.
“Okay… now it’s creepy.”

“They were meant to be,” May said gently.
“Winter was dangerous back then. These stories reminded people not to be lazy — and to take care of each other 🤍”

Sofay whispered, holding her scarf tighter:
“So… as long as we stick together, we’re safe?”

May smiled.
“That’s the whole point.”

🌟
The darkest night was never just about fear.
It was about light, stories, and being together.

✨ This is the first story of our Advent — Circle of Light.
Each night — one story. One guest. One small light.

✨ Ready to join the Advent / Circle of Light countdown?

A simple materials list to help you prepare.