It may be dark and colder these days
But that won’t stop our bright joyful ways
Light the candles, let the music play
Spinning around the sun and its rays
Cycles of life will start a new phase
Hope is here now, let our spirits raise

Happy Winter Solstice! Sunshine will start drawing near
Happy Winter Solstice! Raise up your glass in good cheer

Gather around and ready the lights
Festival time will brighten the night
Set the Yule log, decorate the hall
Science marks this great cycle of Earth
Tilt to the sun sparks nature’s rebirth
Bells are ringing, let the trumpets call

Happy Winter Solstice! Sunshine will start drawing near
Happy Winter Solstice! Join with your friends in good cheer

It may be dark and colder these days
But that won’t stop our bright joyful ways
Light the candles… let the music play…

Happy Winter Solstice! Sunshine will start drawing near
Happy Winter Solstice! Raise up your glass in good cheer

Happy Winter Solstice! Sunshine will start drawing near
Happy Winter Solstice! Join with your friends in good cheer

Words and Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2023

light in the dark
A reason for hope, just a spark
On a long Solstice night
A song in the air
A gathering for those who care
On a cold Solstice night

The time may seem bleak but I know it’s the start
And just the mere thought of this change warms my heart

May we keep hopes shared by candlelight
May your dreams be sweet on Solstice night
Your light seems most bright when it’s darkest outside
The weather may turn but our joy will abide

The stories and songs will reflect all around
The great joys of Yuletide that people have found

May we keep hopes shared by candlelight
May your dream be sweet on Solstice night
Your light seems most bright when it’s darkest outside
The weather may turn but our joy will abide

A smile in the crowd
The feeling up high on a cloud
On a long Solstice night
A star in the sky
The tear drops of joy from my eye
On a cold Solstice night

Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2023

Throwing a spark into the winter air
It lands upon the kindling assembled for a flare
We’ve carried as much dry wood as we could bear
Hiking through the snow, dulcius ex asperis

Flames dancing up to snowflakes floating down
Some flurries join the river as wind spins them around
The blazing in brilliance grows as warmth abounds
On a frosty day, dulcius ex asperis

Meals are best shared outside among the trees
A wilderness in motion as far as you can see
With friends who have journeyed there beyond the freeze
Our bonds warm the heart, dulcius ex asperis

Words and Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2025

Lux in tenebris, nova lux super nivem
Lux in tenebris, per frigidum ventum lucens
Lux in tenebris, tempus quo longae noctes
Lux in tenebris, at in bruma spem habemus

Lux in tenebris, iam nocte tamen canit
Lux in tenebris, per tempestatem saltamus
Lux in tenebris, alta mons solis lucet
Lux in tenebris, calor hoc meum cor tangit

Lux in tenebris, lux in tenebris
Lux in tenebris, lux in tenebris

TRANSLATION
Light in darkness, new light upon the snow
Light in darkness, shining through a cold wind
Light in darkness, the time when the nights are long
Light in darkness, but we have hope in winter

Light in darkness, even though the night has come, they still sing
Light in darkness, we dance through the storm
Light in darkness, the high mountain shines in the sun
Light in darkness, this warmth touches my heart

Light in darkness, light in darkness
Light in darkness, light in darkness

Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2025