Every solstice, we invite friends over to build a big “effigy” out of scrap wood and light it on fire at sunset.
You may ask (as many do): “Is this some kind of pagan thing?”
And the answer is: If you want it to be, sure!
Everyone brings their own meaning to the event.
Mostly, we just think it’s a great excuse to spend a day outside, make weird art out of junk, and stand around a big fire with people we like.1 People have been gathering around fires for thousands of years, and it’s still great every time.
We’re big on building community, and getting a bunch of your favorite weirdos 2 together to build a big sculpture and set it on fire is a great way to connect.
Attendees are encouraged to bring stuff to add into the fire. It can be sentiments or intentions written down, sentimental objects to let go of, durable objects to “cleanse” or patina, or just to burn for fun.
Some objects that have gone in the fire:
- family “heirlooms” with unwanted emotional baggage
- animal bones
- notes/letters
- pottery
- tungsten cube
- bronze sculpture
- an axe
- a baby doll
- beer can
- hand puppet
- invasive plants
- a piece of my baby crib
- fireworks
- furniture
The design of each effigy is made up on the day based on what materials have been collected and whatever seems fun. All attendees are encouraged to participate in the creative building process. Basically, we just go nuts on a pile of wood with an 18 gauge finish nailer (and selective use of framing nailer for the structural bits).
It’s very fun, creative, and collaborative.
During cleanup, some charcoal is collected from each fire to be added to the next one. Thus there is a direct physical connection between each fire, going back to the first one in December 2024.
There is, of course, also a bunch of nails and miscellaneous bits left over. So after each fire, I thoroughly sweep the burn area with a floor magnet until I can pass over the whole area without anything sticking to it. I use my truck in the field sometimes, and I don’t want any surprise nails in my tires. This process is actually pretty fun because, as I sift through the pile I get to find all kinds of cool looking bits that survived the blaze. By the time I’m done, it looks like this.
Past Burns
Litha = Summer Soltice, Yule = Winter Solstice
Litha 2026
Yule 2025
Litha 2025
Yule 2024
Footnotes
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I do think the Wheel of the Year is a cool way to acknowledge and get in tune with the changing seasons, though. ↩
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Of course, I mean “weirdos” lovingly. I’m a weirdo, and if you’ve been invited to one of our fires, you probably are too. I love that about you! ↩