^ "Winter Solstice/Yule". The '09 solstice fell at exactly 5:47pm that day, and because the sun had already set, the official celebrations were due to take place at sunrise the next day. The Celts thought that the sun stood still for twelve days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year. The term 'solstice' derives from the Latin word 'solstitium', meaning 'Sun standing still'. Or maybe it’s time for a local harvest celebration, and you’d like to contribute something to celebrate the season of abundance. My goal is to share my expertise in this path with anyone curious in reading about them and give you access to valuable and accurate information. Earth's tilt is the reason for the season. Because of this many ancient people had a great reverence for, and even worshipped the sun. It's a place in our house we try not to think about unless we're using it, but there are few things more impressive than a clean bathroom. Each hemisphere's cooler half of the year happens when it's tilted away from the sun, and its winter solstice (December in the north, June in the south) marks the point when that half of the globe is tilted away from the sun at its most extreme angle. At this time, the High Priestess should invite anyone who wishes to make an offering to the Goddess to come do so— offerings can be placed on the altar, or if you're outdoors, in a fire. Lasting about a week, Saturnalia was characterized by feasting, debauchery and gift-giving. In 2009, a crowd wearing traditional costume, met at Stonehenge on December 21 morning to mark the rising of the sun on the shortest day of the year. crisscrossed the desert with lines of earth and rock called geoglyphs that connect ceremonial mounds with the place where the winter solstice sun sets on the horizon. It marks the return of the sun, when the days finally begin to get a little longer. A spokesman for English Heritage said at the time: "About 300 people turned up a day early. The poet Catullus considered it to be "the best of days.". From astronomy to religion, the year's shortest day brings enduring mysteries. If you have curtains, take them down and launder them. Pagan leader Arthur Pendragon said: "It is the most important day of the year for us because it welcomes in the new sun. The sun's arc across the sky has been steadily dropping lower and becoming shorter since June. Before you start decorating for Yule, you'll want to get things organized. Stonehenge, the prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, is carefully aligned on a sight-line that points to the winter solstice sunset (opposed to New Grange, which points to the winter solstice sunrise, and the Goseck circle, which is aligned to both the sunset and sunrise). (source). The men send an edible arrangement containing seven kinds of fruits and a variety of gifts to their fiancees on this night. The December solstice happens at the same instant for everyone, everywhere on Earth – and this year the winter solstice occurs on Monday December 21, at … The holiday cheer is beautiful. Let them dry completely before hanging them back in. Share and give back to your community. These Saturnalian banquets were held from as far back as around 217 BC to honour Saturn, the father of the gods. The origin of the word Yule, has several suggested origins from the Old English word, geõla, the Old Norse word jõl, a pagan festival celebrated at the winter solstice, or the Anglo-Saxon word for the festival of the Winter Solstice… Just take a minute to remember the olden days, when we had to hunt for food. Remember, you can adjust the wording in this ritual as necessary, to accommodate the needs and requirements of your group’s purpose. "People always assume that because the summer solstice is the June 21, the winter solstice will be December 21. This year the earliest sunset is on December 12 and the latest sunrise for next year on January 4 2021. This can be a great way to honor your deities and your Pagan community, as well as help others recognize what an important occasion it is. That's still a month or more away, depending on your location, because oceans and landmasses are slow to lose the heat energy they absorbed during the warmer months. In the ancient world a number of monuments were built to commemorate the solstice. During December, solar noons can be some 30 seconds longer than 24 hours apart. Whatever your reason may be, if you’re gathering up some sort of donations, good for you! Likewise, If you have an all-male group, you could revise this rite so that it focuses on the battle of the Oak King and the Holly King, rather than the Crone and the Maiden. People would light fires to symbolise the heat and light of the returning sun and a Juul (or Yule) log was brought in and dropped in the hearth as a tribute to the Norse god Thor. Pomegranate, watermelon and dried nuts are served as a tradition and classic poetry and old mythologies are read in the gathering. The December solstice marks the 'turning of the Sun' as the days slowly get longer. BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. If there's no room for a tree, use a Yule Log instead. Before you drop them off — at the shelter, library, food pantry or wherever — why not invoke the elements to do a formal blessing of the donated items? We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Everyone present should take a few moments to meditate upon the time of the season. To see the earliest sunset coincide more closely with the solstice simply head towards the Arctic, where the difference between the two dwindles. Every year, on the date of the Winter solstice, Iranians celebrate the arrival of winter, the renewal of the sun and the victory of light over darkness on Yalda Night. The winter solstice was a time when cattle were slaughtered (so the animals would not have to be fed during the winter) and the majority of wine and beer was finally fermented. If your family enjoys ritual, you can welcome back the sun at Yule with this simple winter ceremony. Will the Power of Your Subconscious Mind Better Your Life? We took pity on them and opened the stone circle so they could celebrate anyway. The shortest day of the year lasts for 7 hours 49 minutes and 42 seconds in London, which is over 9 hours shorter than the June Solstice. As you see your reflection in the mirror, visualize cleaning away negative energy from your life. Yule holiday is a season of magic, so embrace it and empower your life with it. At mid-winter the Norsemen lit bonfires, told stories and drank sweet ale. If your tradition requires you to formally cast a circle, do so now. This causes both the solstices and the seasons. When everyone has finished, you may either dismiss the circle — if you cast one to begin with — or formally end the ritual in the ways of your tradition. If you have multiple levels, continue up and down stairs as needed. Ancient Egypt's sprawling temple of Karnak was constructed in alignment with the winter solstice at Luxor more than 4,000 years ago. The Yule Log often was an entire tree, carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony and sometimes, the largest end of the log would be placed into the fire hearth, while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room. Newgrange, a huge Stone Age tomb mound built in the Irish countryside around 3200 B.C., about 1,000 years before Stonehenge. It is a time of rebirth and renewal, and we are celebrating the birth of the Sun, so do something different. Egypt's Karnak Temple was built in alignment with the solstice, in order to focus light on a shrine to the sun god. You can also see the solstice sunrise around the world; this website shows the streets in cities around the world where you can get a clear view of the sun rising on the morning of the solstice.

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