Winter Solstice
Dec. 21st, 2006 07:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
phynckeThere is a lot of winter holiday activity today but I wanted to do a thing for the Winter Solstice. I know many people are into this. I like the fact that it marks the turning of the season. Way cool.
The Winter Solstice
by Ann-Marie Imbornoni
Solstice Time
The precise moment of the 2006 solstice will be December 21, 2006 at 7:22 P.M. EST (Dec. 22, 00:22 UT).
In astronomy, the solstice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, the great circle on the celestial sphere that is on the same plane as the earth's equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs either June 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter and summer solstices are reversed.
Reason for the Seasons
The reason for the different seasons at opposite times of the year in the two hemispheres is that while the earth rotates about the sun, it also spins on its axis, which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. Because of this tilt, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight (creating winter) while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer). As the Earth continues its orbit the hemisphere that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons are reversed.
Longest Night of the Year
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, “sun” and -stitium, “a stoppage.” Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.
Information Please® Database, © 2006 Pearson
And now on to the parties. Almost every culture has some form of celebration to mark the solstice.
Solstice Celebrations
The Winter Solstice Celebration, Midwinter Festival or Winter Solstice Festival occures in many cultures. The astronomical event of the winter solstice, occurring around December 21 or 22 each year in the northern hemisphere, and June 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere, is the shortest day of the year. The winter solstice can be, but is usually not, also the darkest night of the year, which takes into account the full moon. In antiquity, the winter solstice was immensely important because communities were not assured to live through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months. Starvation was common in winter between January to April, also known as “the famine months.” The winter solstice festival was the last feast celebration, if it could be managed, before deep winter began. Many cultures celebrate or celebrated a holiday near (within a few days) the winter solstice; examples of these include Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and HumanLight. The first civilization to celebrate the winter solstice were the Ancient Persians, deriving from their Zoroastrian religion. The following is a list of Winter Solstice Celebrations and Festivals.
* 1 DōngZhì Festival
* 2 Yalda
* 3 Yule (Géol, Jól, Jul, Julfest, Mitwinternacht)
* 4 Midwinter Festival (Neopagan, Celtic, Druidic, Secular)
o 4.1 Yule, Jul (Secular)
+ 4.1.1 Yule
+ 4.1.2 Jul
o 4.2 Yule (Wiccan)
o 4.3 Jól (Ásatrúan)
o 4.4 Alban Arthan
* 5 Soyal
* 6 Saturnalia
* 7 Karachun
DōngZhì Festival
The Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至; Pinyin: dōng zhì; "The Extreme of Winter") is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the dongzhi solar term on or around December 21 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest; i.e., on the first day of the dongzhi solar term The origins of this festival can be traced back to the Yin and Yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "Returning"). Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (湯圓, as pronounced in Cantonese; Mandarin Pinyin: Tāng Yuán) or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Every one in the family receives at least one large Tang Yuan and several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl.
Yalda
Yaldā also known as Shab-e Cheleh is celebrated on the eve of the first day of the winter (21th December) in the Iranian calendar, which falls on the Winter Solstice. It celebrates the birth of Sun god Mithra.
Yule (Géol, Jól, Jul, Julfest, Mitwinternacht)
Yule was the winter solstice celebration of the Scandinavian Norse mythology and Germanic pagans. It is believed to have been one of eight celebrations comprising the Wheel of the Year. Yule logs were lit to honor Thor, the god of thunder. Feasting would continue until the log burned out, which could take as many as twelve days. It continued through the Middle Ages in Iceland, but was frowned upon when the Reformation arrived. It is, however, known to have included the sacrifice of a pig for the god Freyr, a tradition which survives in the Scandinavian Christmas ham. This celebration is largely reconstructed to various extents by various groups.
Midwinter Festival (Neopagan, Celtic, Druidic, Secular)
In pre-Christian Europe, the winter solstice festival was a time for feasting, Yule-Joy, and dancing, and has been resurrected in our time in parts of the world often where Europeans or people of European ancestry now reside. Contemporary Winter solstice gatherings are non-commercial, humble, mirthful and reverent affairs. One does not have to be of European ancestry to be welcome; gatherings are open to all peoples.
Yule, Jul (Secular)
The modern Yule, Yuletide or Yulefest is also currently a celebrated secular alternative to Christmas, commonly occuring on the Winter Solstice or near December 25, in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere it is often celebrated on the Winter Solstice or some time through early July in which case it is sometimes called Christmas in July.
Jul
The contemporary Scandinavian Jul or Juletide does not distinguish between the Germanic Pagan feast, Christmas, the Secular Jul or Yule, and (quite possibly) the pre-Indo-European winter solstice celebration.
Yule (Wiccan)
In Wicca, a form of the holiday is observed as one of the eight solar holidays, or Sabbat. In some Wiccan sects the holiday is observed in a manner that commemorates the death of the Holly King identified with the wren bird (symbolizing the old year and the shortened sun) at the hands of his son and successor, the robin redbreast Oak King (the new year and the new sun that begins to grow) (Farrar & Farrar [1989] 1998: 35-38).
Jól (Ásatrúan)
The Icelandic Ásatrú and the Asatru Folk Assembly in the US recognize the celebration as lasting for 12 days, beginning on the date of the winter solstice.
Alban Arthan
In Neo-druidism, Alban Arthan is a seasonal festival at the Winter Solstice. The name derives from the writings of Iolo Morganwg.
Soyal
Soyal is the winter solstice ceremony of the Hopitu Shinumu, "The Peaceful Ones", also known as the Hopi Indians. It is held on December 21st, the shortest day of the year. The main purpose of the ritual is to ceremonially bring the sun back from its long winter slumber. It also marks the beginning of another cycle of the Wheel of the Year, and is a time for purification. Pahos (prayer sticks) are made prior to the Soyal ceremony, to bless all the community, including their homes, animals, and plants. The kivas (sacred underground ritual chambers) are ritually opened to mark the beginning of the Kachina season.
Saturnalia
Saturnalia was the feast at which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn, which originally took place on 17 December, but expanded to a whole week, up to 23 December. A large and important public festival in Rome, it involved the conventional sacrifices, a couch (lectisternium) set out in front of the temple of Saturn and the untying of the ropes that bound the statue of Saturn during the rest of the year. Besides the public rites there were a series of holidays and customs celebrated privately. The celebrations included a school holiday, the making and giving of small presents (saturnalia et sigillaricia) and a special market (sigillaria). Gambling was allowed for all, even slaves; however, although it was officially condoned only during this period. It was a time to eat, drink, and be merry. The toga was not worn, but rather the synthesis, i.e. colorful, informal "dinner clothes"; and the pilleus (freedman's hat) was worn by everyone. Slaves were exempt from punishment, and treated their masters with disrespect. The slaves celebrated a banquet: before, with, or served by the masters. A Saturnalicius princeps was elected master of ceremonies for the proceedings. Saturnalia became one of the most popular Roman festivals which led to more tomfoolery, marked chiefly by having masters and slaves ostensibly switch places. The banquet, for example, would often be prepared by the slaves, and they would prepare their masters' dinner as well. It was license within careful boundaries; it reversed the social order without subverting it.
Karachun
Karachun, Korochun or Kračún was a Slavic holiday similar to Halloween as a day when the Black God and other evil spirits are most potent. It was celebrated by pagan Slavs on the longest night of the year.On this night, Hors, symbolising old sun, becomes smaller as the days become shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, and dies on December 22nd, the winter solstice. It is said to be defeated by the dark and evil powers of the Black God. On December 23rd Hors is resurrected and becomes the new sun, Koleda. Modern scholars tend to associate this holiday with the ancestor worship. On this day, Western Slavs burned fires at cemeteries to keep their loved ones warm, they organized dinings in the honour of the dead so as they would not suffer from hunger. They also lit wooden logs at local crossroads.
From wikipedia.
Hanukkah post to follow. This was a long factoid but I did not want to leave anything out. Read what you want. The aurora borealis picture is from Getty Images.
Cheers.
*****************************
This information is from wikipedia mainly and is spotty or inconsistent in places. The part on Wiccan practices seems inadequate and customs vary widely from group to group or person to person. No offense to anyone's belief's is intended. This is just to give a general idea of what is out there.
*****************************
The Winter Solstice
by Ann-Marie Imbornoni
Solstice Time
The precise moment of the 2006 solstice will be December 21, 2006 at 7:22 P.M. EST (Dec. 22, 00:22 UT).
In astronomy, the solstice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, the great circle on the celestial sphere that is on the same plane as the earth's equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs either June 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter and summer solstices are reversed.
Reason for the Seasons
The reason for the different seasons at opposite times of the year in the two hemispheres is that while the earth rotates about the sun, it also spins on its axis, which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. Because of this tilt, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight (creating winter) while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer). As the Earth continues its orbit the hemisphere that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons are reversed.
Longest Night of the Year
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, “sun” and -stitium, “a stoppage.” Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.
Information Please® Database, © 2006 Pearson
And now on to the parties. Almost every culture has some form of celebration to mark the solstice.
Solstice Celebrations
The Winter Solstice Celebration, Midwinter Festival or Winter Solstice Festival occures in many cultures. The astronomical event of the winter solstice, occurring around December 21 or 22 each year in the northern hemisphere, and June 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere, is the shortest day of the year. The winter solstice can be, but is usually not, also the darkest night of the year, which takes into account the full moon. In antiquity, the winter solstice was immensely important because communities were not assured to live through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months. Starvation was common in winter between January to April, also known as “the famine months.” The winter solstice festival was the last feast celebration, if it could be managed, before deep winter began. Many cultures celebrate or celebrated a holiday near (within a few days) the winter solstice; examples of these include Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and HumanLight. The first civilization to celebrate the winter solstice were the Ancient Persians, deriving from their Zoroastrian religion. The following is a list of Winter Solstice Celebrations and Festivals.
* 1 DōngZhì Festival
* 2 Yalda
* 3 Yule (Géol, Jól, Jul, Julfest, Mitwinternacht)
* 4 Midwinter Festival (Neopagan, Celtic, Druidic, Secular)
o 4.1 Yule, Jul (Secular)
+ 4.1.1 Yule
+ 4.1.2 Jul
o 4.2 Yule (Wiccan)
o 4.3 Jól (Ásatrúan)
o 4.4 Alban Arthan
* 5 Soyal
* 6 Saturnalia
* 7 Karachun
DōngZhì Festival
The Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至; Pinyin: dōng zhì; "The Extreme of Winter") is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the dongzhi solar term on or around December 21 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest; i.e., on the first day of the dongzhi solar term The origins of this festival can be traced back to the Yin and Yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "Returning"). Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (湯圓, as pronounced in Cantonese; Mandarin Pinyin: Tāng Yuán) or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Every one in the family receives at least one large Tang Yuan and several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl.
Yalda
Yaldā also known as Shab-e Cheleh is celebrated on the eve of the first day of the winter (21th December) in the Iranian calendar, which falls on the Winter Solstice. It celebrates the birth of Sun god Mithra.
Yule (Géol, Jól, Jul, Julfest, Mitwinternacht)
Yule was the winter solstice celebration of the Scandinavian Norse mythology and Germanic pagans. It is believed to have been one of eight celebrations comprising the Wheel of the Year. Yule logs were lit to honor Thor, the god of thunder. Feasting would continue until the log burned out, which could take as many as twelve days. It continued through the Middle Ages in Iceland, but was frowned upon when the Reformation arrived. It is, however, known to have included the sacrifice of a pig for the god Freyr, a tradition which survives in the Scandinavian Christmas ham. This celebration is largely reconstructed to various extents by various groups.
Midwinter Festival (Neopagan, Celtic, Druidic, Secular)
In pre-Christian Europe, the winter solstice festival was a time for feasting, Yule-Joy, and dancing, and has been resurrected in our time in parts of the world often where Europeans or people of European ancestry now reside. Contemporary Winter solstice gatherings are non-commercial, humble, mirthful and reverent affairs. One does not have to be of European ancestry to be welcome; gatherings are open to all peoples.
Yule, Jul (Secular)
The modern Yule, Yuletide or Yulefest is also currently a celebrated secular alternative to Christmas, commonly occuring on the Winter Solstice or near December 25, in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere it is often celebrated on the Winter Solstice or some time through early July in which case it is sometimes called Christmas in July.
Jul
The contemporary Scandinavian Jul or Juletide does not distinguish between the Germanic Pagan feast, Christmas, the Secular Jul or Yule, and (quite possibly) the pre-Indo-European winter solstice celebration.
Yule (Wiccan)
In Wicca, a form of the holiday is observed as one of the eight solar holidays, or Sabbat. In some Wiccan sects the holiday is observed in a manner that commemorates the death of the Holly King identified with the wren bird (symbolizing the old year and the shortened sun) at the hands of his son and successor, the robin redbreast Oak King (the new year and the new sun that begins to grow) (Farrar & Farrar [1989] 1998: 35-38).
Jól (Ásatrúan)
The Icelandic Ásatrú and the Asatru Folk Assembly in the US recognize the celebration as lasting for 12 days, beginning on the date of the winter solstice.
Alban Arthan
In Neo-druidism, Alban Arthan is a seasonal festival at the Winter Solstice. The name derives from the writings of Iolo Morganwg.
Soyal
Soyal is the winter solstice ceremony of the Hopitu Shinumu, "The Peaceful Ones", also known as the Hopi Indians. It is held on December 21st, the shortest day of the year. The main purpose of the ritual is to ceremonially bring the sun back from its long winter slumber. It also marks the beginning of another cycle of the Wheel of the Year, and is a time for purification. Pahos (prayer sticks) are made prior to the Soyal ceremony, to bless all the community, including their homes, animals, and plants. The kivas (sacred underground ritual chambers) are ritually opened to mark the beginning of the Kachina season.
Saturnalia
Saturnalia was the feast at which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn, which originally took place on 17 December, but expanded to a whole week, up to 23 December. A large and important public festival in Rome, it involved the conventional sacrifices, a couch (lectisternium) set out in front of the temple of Saturn and the untying of the ropes that bound the statue of Saturn during the rest of the year. Besides the public rites there were a series of holidays and customs celebrated privately. The celebrations included a school holiday, the making and giving of small presents (saturnalia et sigillaricia) and a special market (sigillaria). Gambling was allowed for all, even slaves; however, although it was officially condoned only during this period. It was a time to eat, drink, and be merry. The toga was not worn, but rather the synthesis, i.e. colorful, informal "dinner clothes"; and the pilleus (freedman's hat) was worn by everyone. Slaves were exempt from punishment, and treated their masters with disrespect. The slaves celebrated a banquet: before, with, or served by the masters. A Saturnalicius princeps was elected master of ceremonies for the proceedings. Saturnalia became one of the most popular Roman festivals which led to more tomfoolery, marked chiefly by having masters and slaves ostensibly switch places. The banquet, for example, would often be prepared by the slaves, and they would prepare their masters' dinner as well. It was license within careful boundaries; it reversed the social order without subverting it.
Karachun
Karachun, Korochun or Kračún was a Slavic holiday similar to Halloween as a day when the Black God and other evil spirits are most potent. It was celebrated by pagan Slavs on the longest night of the year.On this night, Hors, symbolising old sun, becomes smaller as the days become shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, and dies on December 22nd, the winter solstice. It is said to be defeated by the dark and evil powers of the Black God. On December 23rd Hors is resurrected and becomes the new sun, Koleda. Modern scholars tend to associate this holiday with the ancestor worship. On this day, Western Slavs burned fires at cemeteries to keep their loved ones warm, they organized dinings in the honour of the dead so as they would not suffer from hunger. They also lit wooden logs at local crossroads.
From wikipedia.
Hanukkah post to follow. This was a long factoid but I did not want to leave anything out. Read what you want. The aurora borealis picture is from Getty Images.
Cheers.
This information is from wikipedia mainly and is spotty or inconsistent in places. The part on Wiccan practices seems inadequate and customs vary widely from group to group or person to person. No offense to anyone's belief's is intended. This is just to give a general idea of what is out there.
*****************************
