For Pagans, the Winter Solstice is more than simply the shortest day of the year; it is one of their minor Sabbats, falling into the winter period of Yule. The day itself can also be known as Yule, while other names include Alban Arthan.
What is a Solstice?
There are two solstices in each year, one in the winter and one in the summer. Autumn and spring are marked by equinoxes. Solstice is an astronomical occurrence, whereby the tilt of the Earth’s axis is either at its nearest or furthest point from the sun. The Winter Solstice occurs when the sun is at its most southerly distance from the celestial equator and thus the sun will appear at its lowest in the sky at noon in the northern hemisphere, producing the shortest day and consequently the longest night. While most people think of this happening on the 21st December, it can actually fall anywhere between the 20th and 23rd. The 2008 Winter Solstice falls on the 21st December, and continues thus until falling on the 22nd in 2011.
The Significance of Ancient Monuments and the Solstice
Many ancient sites, such as stone circles in Britain and Ireland, align themselves with the sun on the shortest day. A prime example of this is Newgrange in Ireland, a megalithic mound and passage tomb. It is most famous for its alignment with the Winter Solstice sun, which at sunrise sees a shaft of light pass down the passage and illuminate the central chamber of the mound.
Other sites which have seemingly been built with the Solstice in mind are the Maes Howe tomb in Orkney, Scotland, which also sees light pass down a passage, and the Maughanby stone circle in Cumbria, England, whose tallest stone, known as Long Meg, aligns with the setting sun. Of course, the most famous ancient monument of all, Stonehenge, also aligns with both solstices.
Winter Solstice Celebrations
The Solstice has been celebrated since ancient times, ranging from the Mesopotamians, who celebrated a 12-day festival of renewal to help their god Marduk tame chaos monsters for the coming year, while the Roman solstice celebration was named Sol Invictus, meaning the Unconquered Sun. This eventually intertwined with their other seasonal festival for this period, Saturnalia.
Winter Solstice Traditions
As the start of the solar year, it is a celebration of light and the rebirth of the sun. Generally, Pagans celebrate throughout the period of Yule, with traditional décor of holly, ivy, pine cones, mistletoe, Yule trees and logs, and other festive adornments which have been adopted by Christians for Christmas decorations. Sun gods and goddesses are honoured, and light is represented with candles and lanterns.
Other festivals to fall around this time are, of course, Christmas and Hanukkah, both of which draw from traditional solstice festivities, such as the exchanging of Christmas presents and the lighting of candles on the Hanukkah menorah.
Across all traditions, this time of year is seen as a time to share with family and loved ones, and to contemplate the ending of one year and the beginning of the next, looking forward to the planning of the future. It is a time of hope, joy and caring, where people forget their differences and come together in peace.
References:
Cole, Jennifer. Ceremonies of the Seasons. Duncan Baird Publishers, 2007
Louise Heyden - Louise Heyden is a writer, artist, work at home mum, sound technician and former school Library Manager.
