By BESS ZEWDIE
ON Saturday 21 June, the Healesville community will come together to observe the shortest day of the calendar year, the winter solstice.
‘Midwinter Rebirth’ will take place at the Healesville Community Labyrinth, where members of the community can enjoy a dance before dawn, a guided labyrinth walk, and a cooked breakfast by a warm fire – all for a gold coin donation.
Organised by the Healesville Labyrinth Committee, the event is a part of ‘Healesville 150th’, a year-long affair celebrating the town’s rich 150-year history. The winter solstice celebration is among a long list of exhibitions, workshops, music festivals, and other family-friendly events being held throughout this year to honour the milestone.
The Healesville Labyrinth Committee believes the winter solstice, as well as the labyrinth backdrop, provides a great opportunity to bring Healesville residents together, and promote community values.
“It’s another one of the events that sits under the ‘Healesville 150th’ banner,” a representative from the Healesville Labyrinth Committee says.
“Labyrinths are very old, they’ve been around for thousands of years, and a lot of non-religious peoples have used labyrinths as a central place of spirituality for such a long time.
“Midwinter, the solstices and the equinoxes are events that used to be celebrated regularly, so it ties in quite nicely.”
The Healesville Community Labyrinth opened in March, 2011, by the Yarra Ranges Council and Eastern Access Community Health (EACH).
‘Midwinter Rebirth’ will be held from 7am, at the Healesville Labyrinth, Old Railway Park on Saturday, 21 June.
