Winter Solstice and The Nutcracker

These are dark days and today is the shortest one of the year for us in the northern hemisphere. In Seattle, there were mere 8.5 hours between sunrise and sunset, and since the rain stopped for a few hours we decided to chase away the blues by partaking in an outdoor festivities to mark the Winter Solstice, one of the many events at Winterfest, a month long winter celebration at the Seattle Center. Beginning at sunset with a procession to the International Fountain, the performance included a blend of music, story, fire and dance.

Later in the evening we enjoyed one of Seattle's celebrated holiday traditions, Pacific Northwest Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker. This fairy-tale ballet with a multitude of characters, wonderful costumes and an incredible set design along with a sweeping Tchaikovsky score has a way of making us remember the magic of childhood and brought smiles to the faces of young and old alike.