Each year, the Friends of the Forest Preserves host a celebration of life and light at Somme Woods in Northbrook. A towering bonfire of buckthorn wood recalls an ancient tradition, while symbolizing the restoration of health to the forest ecosystem.

Click through the links below for photos from the December 20, 2009 winter solstice celebration.

2009 Solstice Celebration by Carol Freeman

Bagpiper Don Larson of the Shannon Rovers led a procession of more than 200 people of all ages through the oak woodland to a mountain of buckthorn that had been cut during 2009. As Somme Woods master steward Linda Masters described it, "A group of whitetailed deer walked by as children shouted. The line of four deer in the snow almost looked as if they should be pulling a sleigh full of presents. But most striking were the handsome old oaks, where the buckthorn had been cut away. An open oak woods is a beautiful sight."

"This celebration, marking the beginning of the lengthening of days, is an annual event," said Masters. "But the wonderful volunteers who cut the brush all year long are bringing back the light in another way—and permanently." Shade from brush is a killer of wildlife, wildflowers,mighty oaks, the whole ecosystem. A controlled burn was held by the Forest Preserve District at Somme Woods this fall, but the controlled burns aren't as intense as the natural wildfires that once were a critical part of the prairie and oak woodland ecosystems. Volunteer stewards are still needed to cut back the bigger brush, and this event is a "thank you" for them—and a "welcome to the winter woods" for neighbors and everyone interested in the forest.

Bonfires are an ancient solstice tradition, with historical connections to the lights of Christmas and Hanukkah. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Forest Preserves, North Branch Restoration Project, and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.