Winter Solstice

Music Home >> Music Genres >> Undetermined Music



< < < < < > > > > > More Info on Winter Solstice Similar Undetermined Music Search Artistopia

Biography

The winter solstice is the solstice that occurs in winter . It is the time at which the Sun is appearing at noon at its lowest Altitude (astronomy)|altitude above the horizon."winter solstice". Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. Jan. 13, 2012. .

In the Northern Hemisphere this is the Southern solstice , the time at which the Sun is at its southernmost point in the sky, which usually occurs on December 21 to 22 each year.solstice. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 13, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online

In the Southern Hemisphere this is the Northern solstice , the time at which the Sun is at its northernmost point in the sky, which usually occurs on June 20 to 21 each year.solstice. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 13, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online

The axial tilt of Earth and gyroscope#Properties|gyroscopic effects of the planet's daily rotation keep the axis of rotation pointed at the same point in the sky. As the Earth follows its orbit around the Sun, the same hemisphere that faced away from the Sun, experiencing winter, will, in half a year, face towards the Sun and experience summer. Since the two hemispheres face opposite directions along the planetary pole, as one polar hemisphere experiences winter, the other experiences summer.

More evident from high latitudes , a hemisphere's winter solstice occurs on the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the sun's daily maximum elevation in the sky is the lowest.An Introduction to Physical Science, 12th Ed., James Ship-man, Jerry D. Wilson, Aaron Todd, Section 15.5, p 423, ISBN 978-0-618-92696-1, 2007. Since the winter solstice lasts only a moment in time, other terms are often used for the day on which it occurs, such as " midwinter ", "the longest night", "the shortest day" or " First_day_of_winter#Astronomical|"the first day of winter" . The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days.

Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most northern hemisphere cultures have held a recognition of rebirth, involving holidays , festivals, gatherings, rituals or other parties|celebrations around that time.

History and cultural significance

Since the event is seen as the reversal of the Sun 's ebbing presence in the sky, concepts of the birth or rebirth of sun god s have been common and, in cultures using winter solstitially based cyclic calendars, the year as reborn has been celebrated with regard to Life-death-rebirth deity|life-death-rebirth deities or new beginnings such as Hogmanay 's redding , a New Year cleaning tradition. In Greek mythology, the gods and goddesses met on the winter and summer solstice, and Hades is permitted to enter Mount Olympus (his domain is the underworld so he of course does not get accepted any other time). Also reversal is yet another usual theme as in Saturnalia 's slave and master reversals.

Observances

Direct observation of the solstice by amateurs is difficult because the sun moves too slowly at either solstice to determine its specific day, let alone its instant. Knowledge of when the event occurs has only recently been facilitated to near its instant according to precise astronomy|astronomical data tracking . It is not possible to detect the actual instant of the solstice (by definition, one can not observe that an object has stopped moving until one makes a second observation in time showing that it has not moved further from the preceding spot, or that it has moved in the opposite direction). Further, to be precise to a single day one must be able to observe a change in azimuth or elevation less than or equal to about 1/60 of the angular diameter of the sun. Observing that it occurred within a two day period is easier, requiring an observation precision of only about 1/16 of the angular diameter of the sun. Thus, many observations are of the day of the solstice rather than the instant. This is often done by watching the sunrise and sunset or vice versa or using an Archaeoastronomy|astronomically aligned instrument that allows a ray of light to cast on a certain point around that time.

Before the scientific revolution many forms of observances, astronomical, symbolic or ritualistic, had evolved according to the beliefs of various cultures, many of which are still practiced today. The following is an alphabetical list of observances believed to be directly linked to the winter solstice.

A

Amaterasu celebration, Requiem of the Dead (7th century Japan)

In late 7th century Japan, festivities were held to celebrate the reemergence of Amaterasu or Amateras , the sun goddess of Japanese mythology , from her seclusion in a cave. The other gods make a loud celebration in order to make Amaterasu come out of her cave. She peeks out, sees her image in a mirror, and the other gods convince her to stay out of the cave; thereby restoring sunlight to the world. Requiem s for the dead were held and manzai and Lion_dance#Japanese_Lion|shishimai were performed throughout the night, awaiting the sunrise. Aspects of this tradition survive on New Years.

B

Beiwe Festival (Sami people of Fennoscandia)

The Sami people|Saami , indigenous people of Finland , Sweden and Norway , worship Beiwe , the sun-goddess of fertility and sanity. She travels through the sky in a structure made of reindeer bones with her daughter, Beiwe-Neia, to herald back the greenery on which the reindeer feed. On the winter solstice, her worshipers sacrifice white female animals, and thread the meat onto sticks which they bend into rings and tie with bright ribbons. They also cover their doorposts with butter so Beiwe can eat it and begin her journey once again.

Brumalia (Roman Kingdom)

Influenced by the Ancient Greek Lenaia festival, Brumalia was an ancient Roman solstice festival honoring Dionysus|Bacchus , generally held for a month and ending December 25. The festival included drinking and merriment. The name is derived from the Latin word bruma , meaning "shortest day" or "winter solstice". The festivities almost always occurred on the night of December 24.

C

Chawmos (Kalash people of Pakistan)

In the ancient traditions of the Kalash people of Pakistan , during winter solstice, a demigod returns to collect prayers and deliver them to Dezao, the supreme being. "During this celebrations women and girls are purified by taking ritual baths. The men pour water over their heads while they hold up bread. Then the men and boys are purified with water and must not sit on chairs until evening when goat's blood is sprinkled on their faces. Following this purification, a great festival begins, with singing, dancing, bonfires, and feasting on goat tripe and other delicacies".

Christmas, Natalis Domini (4th century Rome, 11th century England, Christian)

Christmas or ''Christ's Mass is one of the most popular Christian celebrations as well as one of the most globally recognized mid-winter celebrations in the Northern hemisphere . Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, called the "Son of God," the second person of the Holy Trinity, as well as "Savior of the World." The birth is observed on December 25, which was the Brumalia|Roman winter solstice upon establishment of the Julian Calendar ., The Catholic Encyclopedia , 1913. Activities include feasting, Christmas Eve|Midnight Masses and singing Christmas carols about the Nativity . Good deeds and gift giving in the tradition of St. Nicholas or Santa Claus is also observed. Many observe the holiday for Twelve days of Christmas|twelve days leading up to Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany .

D

Deygan, Maidyarem (Zoroastrian, Greater Iran)

Theologically, Maidyarem is associated with Vahman, the Amesha Spenta (or Holy Immortal) who created the primal bull, and all cattle, and is associated with good plans and intentions. Maidyarem is celebrated in Dey , the tenth month of the Zoroastrian calendar , from the sixteenth ( Mihr ) to the twentieth ( Bahram ) day. There are also speculations that by the Persian calendar many celebrated on the last day of the Persian month Azar , the longest night of the year, when the forces of Ahriman are assumed to be at the peak of their strength. The next day, the first day of the month Dey , known as khoram ruz or khore ruz (the day of sun) belongs to God ( Ahura Mazda ). Since the days are getting longer and the nights shorter, this day marks the victory of Sun over the darkness. The occasion was celebrated in the ancient Persian Deygan Festival dedicated to Ahura Mazda, and Mithra on the first day of the month Dey .

Dongzhi Festival (East Asian Cultural Sphere)

The Winter Solstice Festival or The Extreme of Winter () ( Pinyin : Dong zhì ), ( Romanization of Japanese|Romaji :
Toji ), ( Revised Romanization of Korean|Romaja : Dongji ) is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the East Asian Cultural Sphere|Chinese and other East Asians during the dongzhi (solar term)|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 (I Ching)|hexagram I Ching hexagram 24|fù (?, "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 Overseas Chinese|Chinese communities overseas ) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (food)|Tangyuan (??, as pronounced in Standard Mandarin|Mandarin Pinyin : Tang Yuán ) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion. In Korea, similar balls of glutinous rice () ( Revised Romanization of Korean|English pronunciation : Saealsim ), is prepared in a traditional porridge made with sweet red bean () ( Revised Romanization of Korean|English pronunciation : Patjook ). Patjook was believed to have a special power and sprayed around houses on winter solstice to repel sinister spirits. This practice was based on a traditional folk tale, in which the ghost of a man that used to hate patjook comes haunting innocent villagers on the winter solstice.

G

Goru (Dogon people of Mali)

Goru is the (December) Winter solstice ceremony of the Dogon people|Pays Dogon of Mali . It is the last harvest ritual and celebrates the arrival of humanity from the sky god, Dogon people|Amma , via Nommo inside the Aduno Koro , or the "Ark of the World".

H

Hanukkah (Judaism)

Hanukkah (Hebrew: ????????, Tiberian: ?anukkah, nowadays usually spelled ????? pronounced in Modern Hebrew , also romanized as Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a unique candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah (Hanukkah)|Menorah or Hanukiah , one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. An extra light called a shamash (Hebrew: ???, "attendant" or "sexton") is also lit each night for the purpose of lighting the others, and is given a distinct location, usually above or below the rest. The shamash symbolically supplies light that may be used.

There is discussion if Hanukkah should be classified as a winter solstice holiday. The Jewish calendar is neither solar nor lunar in nature but exists as a tension between the two. As such, while the events that are commemorated by Hanukkah happened on or around the solstice, because of the use of the lunar calendar, Hanukkah is sometimes celebrated as early as late November.

Hogmanay (Scotland)

The New Years Eve celebration of Scotland is called Hogmanay . The name derives from the old Scots name for Yule gifts of the Middle Ages. The early Hogmanay celebrations were originally brought to Scotland by the invading and occupying Norsemen|Norse who celebrated a solstitial new year (Britain celebrated the new year on March 25, "Lady Day"). In 1600, with the Scottish application of the January 1 New year and the church's persistent suppression of the solstice celebrations, the holiday traditions moved to December 31. The most widespread Scottish custom is the practice of First-Foot|first-footing which starts immediately after midnight on New Year's Day. This involves being the first person (usually tall and dark haired) to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less common today), coal, shortbread , whisky , and black bun (a fruit pudding) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and drink (as the gifts, and often Flies cemetery ) are then given to the guests.

Traditionally Hogmanay was a day of preparation and the celebrations did not begin until after midnight i.e. into the New Year. It was like many winter festivals and really celebrated the end of winter and the return of the sun.

I

Inti Raymi (Inca: Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador)

The Inti Raymi or "Festival of the Sun" was a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the sun god Inti . It also marked the winter solstice and a new year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere . One ceremony performed by the Inca priests was the tying of the sun . In Machu Picchu there is still a large column of stone called an Intihuatana , meaning "hitching post of the sun" or literally for tying the sun . The ceremony to tie the sun to the stone was to prevent the sun from escaping. The Spanish conquest , never finding Machu Picchu, destroyed all the other intihuatana , extinguishing the sun tying practice. The Catholic Church managed to suppress all Inti festivals and ceremonies by 1572. Since 1944 a theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been taking place at Sacsayhuamán (two km. from Cusco ) on June 24 of each year, attracting thousands of local visitors and tourists. The Monte Alto culture may have also had a similar tradition.

J

Junkanoo, John Canoe, Dzon'ku 'Nu (West Africa, Bahamas, Jamaica, 19th-century North Carolina, Virginia)

Junkanoo in The Bahamas, Junkunno or Jonkanoo in Jamaica, is a fantastic masquerade, parade and street festival, suspected to be derived from either ''Dzon'ku 'Nu (tr: Witch-doctor) of the West African Papaws , an Ewe people or Njoku Ji , an Alusi () of the Igbo people . It is traditionally performed through the streets towards the end of December, and involves participants dressed in a variety of fanciful costumes , such as the Cow Head , the Hobby Horse , the Wild Indian , and the Devil . The parades are accompanied by bands usually consisting of fife s, drums, and coconut grater s used as scrapers, and Jonkanoo songs are also sung. A similar practice was once common in coastal North Carolina, where it was called "John Canoe", "John Koonah", or "John Kooner". John Canoe was likened to the wassailing tradition of medieval Britain (disambiguation)|medieval Britain . John Canoe was interpreted by many Euro-American s to bear strong resemblance to the social inversion rituals that marked the ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia .

K

Karachun (Ancient West Slavs)

Karachun , Korochun or Kracún was a Slavic peoples|Slavic holiday similar to Halloween as a day when the Crnobog|Black God and other evil spirits were most potent. It was celebrated by Slavs on the longest night of the year. On this night, Hors , symbolising the old sun, becomes smaller as the days become shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, and dies on 22 December|December 22 , the December solstice. He is said to be defeated by the dark and evil powers of the Black God. In honour of Hors, the Slavs danced a ritual chain-dance which was called the horo . Traditional chain-dancing in Bulgaria is still called horo . In Russia and Ukraine , it is known as khorovod . On 23 December|December 23 Hors is resurrected and becomes the new sun, Koleda . On this day, Western Slavs burned fires at cemeteries to keep their departed loved ones warm, organized dinings in the honor of the dead so as they would not suffer from hunger and lit wooden logs at local crossroads.

Koleda, ??????, Sviatki, Dazh Boh (Ancient East Slavs and Sarmatian)

In ancient Slavonic cultures, the festival of Koleda began at Winter solstice and lasted for ten days. In Russia, this festival was later applied to Christmas Eve but most of the practices were lost after the soviet union|Soviet Revolution . Each family made a fire in their hearth and invited their personal household god s to join in the festivities. Children disguise themselves on evenings and nights and as Koledari (disambiguation)|Koledari , visited houses and sang wishes of good luck, like Shchedryk (song)|Shchedryk , to hosts. As a reward, they were given little gifts, a tradition called Kolyadovanie , much like the old wassailing or mummers Tradition.

L

Lá an Dreoilín, Wren day (Celtic, Irish, Welsh, Manx)

For an unknown period, Lá an Dreoilín or Wren day has been celebrated in Ireland, the Isle of Man and Wales on December 26. Crowds of people, called wrenboys , take to the roads in various parts of Ireland, dressed in motley clothing, wearing masks or straw suits and accompanied by musicians. Previously the practice involved the killing of a wren , and singing songs while carrying the bird from house to house, stopping in for food and merriment.

Lenæa (Ancient Greece and Hellenistic Greece)

In the Aegean civilization s, the exclusively female midwinter ritual, Lenaea or Lenaia , was the "Festival of the Wild Women". In the forest, a man or bull representing the god Dionysus was torn to pieces and eaten by Maenad s. Later in the ritual a baby, representing Dionysus reborn, was presented. Lenaion, the first month of the Delian calendar, derived its name from the festival's name. By Classical Greece|classical times , the human sacrifice had been replaced by that of a goat, and the women's role had changed to that of funeral mourners and observers of the birth. Wine miracles were performed by the priests, in which priests would seal water or juice in a room overnight and the next day they would have turned into wine. The miracle was said to have been performed by Dionysus and the Maenad|Lenaians . By the 5th century BCE the ritual had become a Greek calendar|Gamelion festival for theatrical competitions, often held in Athens in the Lenaion theater. The festival influenced the ancient Roman Brumalia .Dies Alcyoniae: The Invention of Bellini's Feast of the Gods, by Anthony Colantuono College Art Association, Inc. The Art Bulletin. 1991. Vol. 73, No. 2, p. 246Correspondences between the Delian and Athenian Calendars in the Years 433 and 432 B. C., by Allen B. West. American Journal of Archaeology . 1934. Vol.38, No. 1, p.9The Miracle of the Wine at Dionysos' Advent; On the Lenaea Festival, by J. Vürtheim
The Classical Quarterly, 1920. Vol. 14, No. 2, p.94

Lohri (India)

In Punjab region|Punjab , the winter solstice is celebrated as Lohri . Lohri is of Punjabi folk religion origin, January 24, 2004 Kushwant Singh The Times It finds no mention in the Hindu Puranas but has over time been twinned with the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti which is celebrated a day after Lohri and is known as Maghi. For this reason, Lohri is not actually celebrated on the winter solstice but at the end of the month, Paush.

Saint Lucy's Day, Lucia, St. Lucia (Scandinavia)

Saint Lucy's Day occurs on December 13, the Winter solstice according to the old Julian calendar|(Julian) calendar . A young girl or woman is chosen to portray Lucia wearing a white robe and a red sash representing blood. She wears a crown or wreath with candles (today usually electric ones) and hands out treats to children. She is the one who brings the sun back and chases away winter. The chosen Lucia goes to the homes of the elderly and to hospitals very often, singing songs and glowing with candles. Frequently Lucia celebrations are held at a church where many women and men appear, dressed in white, and sing. However, it is only Lucia who wears the crown while others hold candles and wear tinsel in their hair and around their waists. The boys are dressed as 'Star boys' and wear pointed hats decorated with gold stars.

Saffron bun|Lussekatt is often eaten around this time and is often made as a large bun and served with coffee. The word "lussekatt" ("Lucy cat") may be derived from the great Norse goddess Freya ´s carriage drawn by cats. Very often it is the eldest daughter of a family who will wear a white dress and a crown of tinsel or green leaves, and candles. She will give the bread and coffee to her parents, often singing one of many Lucia songs.

Sweden takes this tradition very seriously, even going so far as to allow no male to wear the Lucia crown. Doing so often causes large uproar. It is a large honor to be picked to portray Lucia and many girls want to appear as her attendants in a large group to sing the Lucia songs. The year´s Nobel Prize winners are treated to coffee and "Lucy cats" at their hotel rooms, early in the morning.

M

Makara Sankranti (Hindu, India and Nepal)

Makara Sankranti , celebrated at the beginning of Uttarayana ????????, is the only Hindu festival which is based on the celestial calendar rather than the lunar calendar. The zodiac having drifted from the solar calendar has caused the festival to now occur in mid-January (see precession of equinoxes ). In Tamil Nadu it is celebrated as the festival of Pongal . The day before Pongal, they celebrate Bhogi . In Assam it is called Magh Bihu (the First day of Magh), in Punjab Maghi and in Hindi speaking states, West Bengal and Maharshtra it is observed as Makar Sankranti and is celebrated by exchanging balls of sesame candy ( Til Gur ) and requesting each other to be as sweet as the candy balls for the next year. It is called Makara Sankrant because the sun enters the zodiacal sign of Capricorn on January 14 (Makar meaning Capricorn). It is celebrated with much pomp in Andhra Pradesh, where the festival is celebrated for three days and is more of a cultural festival than an auspicious day as in other parts of India. In some parts of India, the festival is celebrated by taking dips in the Ganges or another river and offering water to the Sun god. The dip is said to purify the self and bestow punya . In many states, mainly in Gujarat , families fly bright colorful kites from their roofs all day and into the night. It is a form of celebrating and welcoming the longer days. It is also very common to feed grass to the cows on this day. In Assam on Bihu Eve or Uruka families build house-like structures called bhelaghar and separate large bhelaghar are built by the community as a whole. Different sorts of twine are tied around fruit trees. Traditionally, fuel is stolen for the final ceremony, when all the bhelaghar are burned. Their remains are then placed at the fruit trees. Special Puja (Hinduism)|puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest. Since the festival is celebrated in midwinter, the foods prepared for this festival are such that they keep the body warm and give high energy. Laddu of til made with jaggery is specialty of the festival.

Maruaroa o Takurua, (Maori people, New Zealand)

Occurring June 20 – June 22 the Maruaroa o Takurua is seen by the New Zealand Maori people as the middle of the winter season. It follows directly after the rise of Matariki ( Pleiades (star cluster)|Pleiades ) which marked the beginning of the New Year and was said to be when the Sun turned from his northern journey with his winter-bride Takurua (the star Sirius ) and began his journey back to his Summer-bride Hineraumati.

Meán Geimhridh, Celtic Midwinter (Celtic, Ancient Welsh, Neo-druidism)

Meán Geimhridh (Irish tr: "midwinter") or Grianstad an Gheimhridh (Irish tr: "winter solstice') is a name sometimes used for hypothetical midwinter rituals or celebrations of the Proto-Celtic tribes, Celts , and late Druids . In Ireland's calendars, the solstices and equinox es all occur at about midpoint in each season. The passage and chamber of Newgrange ( Pre-Celtic or possibly Proto-Celtic 3,200 BC), a tomb in Ireland, are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. The dramatic event lasts for 17 minutes at dawn from the 19th to the 23rd of December. "The point of roughness" is the term for the winter solstice in Wales which in ancient Welsh mythology , was when Rhiannon gave birth to the sacred son, Pryderi . Today, among neodruidism|Neo-druids , Alban Arthan (Welsh tr. "light of winter" but derived from Welsh poem, Light of Arthur ) is celebrated on the winter solstice with a ritualistic festival, and gift giving to the needy.

Midwinter (Antarctica)

In research station s throughout Antarctica , Midwinter is celebrated on the Southern Hemisphere winter solstice in June as a way to mark the fact that the people who winter-over just went through half their tour of duty. Depending on the station the celebrations can last from a day to a week and are typically marked by parties, team games, redecoration of the premises and days off work.

Modraniht (Anglo-Saxon paganism)

Modraniht ( Old English "Night of the Matres and Matrones|Mothers " or "Mothers'-night") was an event held at Christmas Eve by the Anglo-Saxon paganism|Anglo-Saxon Pagans where a sacrifice may have been made. The event is attested by the medieval English historian Bede in his 8th century Latin work De temporum ratione . Scholars have proposed connections between the Anglo-Saxon Modraniht and celebrations involving the dísir , the idisi , and the Matres and Matrones practiced by other Germanic peoples .

Mummer's Day, Montol (Celtic, Cornish people)

'' Mummer's Day referencing the animist garbs, or Darkie Day'' referencing the soot facing ritual, is an ancient Cornish people|Cornish midwinter celebration that occurs every year on December 26 and New Year's Day in Padstow , Cornwall. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated all over Cornwall where people would Guise dancing|guise dance and disguise themselves by blackening up their faces or wearing masks. In Penzance the festival has been given the name Montol Festival|Montol believing it to be the Celtic Cornish language|Cornish word for Winter solstice.

R

Rozhanitsa Feast (12th century East Slavs, Russia)

In 12th century Russia , the eastern Slavs worshiped the winter mother goddess , Rozhnitsa , offering bloodless sacrifices like honey, bread and cheese. Bright colored winter embroideries depicting the antlered goddess were made to honor the Feast of Rozhanitsa in late December. And white, deer-shaped cookies were given as lucky gifts. Some Russian women continued the observation of these traditions into the 20th century.Kelly, Mary B. Goddesses and Their Offspring, NY: Binghamton (1990)

S

Shab-e Chelleh, ???? , Yalda (2nd millennium BC Persian Empire, Iran)

Derived from a pre-Zoroastrian festival, Shab-e Chelleh is celebrated on the eve of the first day of winter in the Persian calendar , which always falls on the solstice. Yalda is the most important non-new-year Iranian festival in modern-day Iran and it has been long celebrated in Iran by all ethnic/religious groups. According to Iranian mythology, Mithra was born at the end of this night after the long-expected defeat of darkness against light. Shab-e Chelleh is now an important social occasion, when family and friends get together for fun and merriment. Usually families gather at their elders' homes. Different kinds of dried fruits, nuts, seeds and fresh winter fruits are consumed. The presence of dried and fresh fruits is reminiscence of the ancient feasts to celebrate and pray to the deities to ensure the protection of the winter crops. Watermelons , persimmons and pomegranates are traditional symbols of this celebration, all representing the sun. It used to be customary to stay awake Yalda night until sunrise eating, drinking, listening to stories and poems, but this is no longer very common as most people have things to do on the next day.

During the early Roman Empire many Syriac Christianity|Syrian Christians fled from persecution into the Sassanid Empire of Iran, introducing the term Yalda , meaning "birth", causing Shab-e Yalda to became synonymous with Shab-e Chelleh . Although both terms are used interchangeably, Chelleh is more commonly accepted for this occasion.

Sanghamitta Day (Buddhism)

Sanghamitta is in honor of the Buddhist nun who brought a branch of the Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka where it has flourished for over 2,000 years.

Saturnalia, Chronia (Ancient Greek, Roman Republic)

Originally celebrated by the ancient Greeks as Kronia , the festival of Cronus ,
Saturnalia was the festival|feast at which the Rome|Romans commemorated the
dedication of the temple of Saturn (mythology)|Saturn , which originally took place on December 17, but expanded to a whole week, up to December 23. A large and important public festival in Rome, it involved the conventional sacrifices, a couch set in front of the temple of Saturn (mythology)|Saturn and the untying of the ropes that bound the statue of Saturn during the rest of the year. Besides the public rite s 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 during this period. The toga was not worn, but rather the synthesis , i.e., colorful, informal "dinner clothes" and the Pileus (hat)|pileus (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. Saturnalia became one of the most popular Roman festivals which led to more tomfoolery, marked chiefly by having masters and slaves ostensibly switch places, temporarily reversing the social order. In Greek and Cyprus|Cypriot folklore it was believed that children born during the festival were in danger of turning into Kallikantzaroi which come out of the Earth after the solstice to cause trouble for mortals. Some would leave colander s on their doorsteps to distract them until the sun returned.

Sewy Yelda (Kurdish)

The Night of Winter . Since the night is the longest in the year, ancient tribes believed that it was the night before a victory of light over darkness and signified a rebirth of the sun. The sun plays an important role in several ancient religions still practiced by some Kurds in addition to its importance in Zoroastrianism.

In modern times, communities in the Kurdistan region still observe the night as a holiday. Many families prepare large feasts for their communities and the children play games and are given sweets in similar fashion to modern-day Halloween practices.

Sol Invictus Festival (3rd century Roman Empire)

Sol Invictus ("the undefeated Sun") or, more fully, Deus Sol Invictus ("the undefeated
sun god") was a religious title that allowed several Solar deity|solar deities , including El (god)|Elah-Gabal , a Syrian sun god; Sol (mythology)|Sol , the god of Emperor Aurelian; and Mithras , a soldiers' god of Persian mythology|Persian origin, to be worshipped collectively., The Catholic Encyclopedia , 1913. Emperor Elagabalus (218–222) introduced the festival of the birth of the Unconquered Sun (or Dies Natalis Solis Invicti ) to be celebrated on December 25, and it reached the height of its popularity under Aurelian , who promoted it as an empire-wide holiday."Sol," Encyclopædia Britannica , Chicago (2006). With the growing popularity of the Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth came to be given much of the recognition previously given to a sun god, thereby including Christ in the tradition. New Catholic Encyclopedia , "Christmas"

Soyal (Zuni people and Hopi people of North America)

Soyalangwul is the winter solstice ceremony of the Zuni people|Zuni and the Hopitu Shinumu, also known as the Hopi . It is held on December 21, 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.Bahti, Tom. "Southwestern Indian Ceremonials". KC Publications (1970) p36–40., Hopi: The Real Thing

W

We Tripantu (Mapuche in southern Chile)

We Tripantu ( Mapudungun tr: new sunrise) is the conclusion of the Mapuche New Year that takes place between June 21 and June 24 in the Gregorian calendar . ( We tripantu o año nuevo mapuche) It is the Mapuche's equivalent to the Inti Raymi . The ancestral incertidubre stayed up throughout the year's longest night with anxiety that the next day would not come. After three days it became clear that the winter was diminishing. The Pachamama ( Quechua languages|Quechua tr: Mother Earth), Nuke Mapu (''uke' Mapu ) begins to bloom fertilized by :wikt:sol|Sol , from the Andean heights to the southern tip. Antu (Pillan), Inti ( Aymara people|Aymara ), or Easter Island|Rapa ( rapanui'') Sol, the sun starts to come back to earth, after the longest night of the year: it's winter Solstice. Todo start to bloom again. Pascual Coña : Memorias de un cacique mapuche. Santiago (Chile): Instituto de Investigación en Reforma Agraria (2.ª edición), abril de 1973.

Y

Yule (Germanic peoples)

Yule or Yuletide ("Yule-time") is a List of winter festivals|winter festival that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic people as a Germanic paganism|pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. The festival was originally celebrated from late December to early January on a date determined by the Lunar calendar|lunar Germanic calendar . The festival was placed on December 25 when the Christian calendar ( Julian calendar ) was adopted. Scholars have connected the celebration to the Wild Hunt .

Terms with an etymological equivalent to Yule are used in the Nordic countries for the Christian Christmas (with its religious rites ), but also for other holidays of the season. Yule is also used to a lesser extent in English-speaking countries to refer to Christmas. Customs such as the Yule log , Yule goat , Christmas ham|Yule boar , Wassailing|Yule singing , and others stem from Yule. Germanic Neopaganism has adopted the pre-Christian festival, as have some other non-Christian religions, such as Wicca .

Z

Zagmuk, Sacaea (Ancient Mesopotamia, Sumeria, Babylonia)

Adapting the Egyptian Osiris celebrations, the Babylonians held the annual renewal or new year celebration, the Zagmuk Festival. It lasted 10 days, overlapping either the winter solstice or vernal equinox in its center peak. It was a festival held in observation of the sun god Marduk 's battle over darkness. The Babylonians held both land and river parades. Sacaea , as Berossus referred to it, had festivals characterized with a subversion of order leading up to the new year. Masters and slaves interchanged, a mock king was crowned and masquerade ball|masquerades clogged the streets. This has been a suggested precursor to the Festival of Kronos, Saturnalia and possibly Purim .Morrison, Dorothy. Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth. Llewellyn Publications (2000)

Ziemassvetki (Latvia, Baltic states, Romuva)

In ancient Latvia , Ziemassvetki , meaning winter festival , was celebrated on December 21 as one of the two most important holidays, the other being Jani . Ziemassvetki celebrated the birth of Dievs , the highest god of Latvian mythology . The two weeks before Ziemassvetki are called Velu laiks , the "season of ghosts."

During the festival, candles were lit for Dievs (Latvian god)|Dievinš and a fire kept burning until the end, when its extinguishing signaled an end to the unhappiness of the previous year. During the ensuing feast, a space at the table was reserved for Ghosts, who was said to arrive on a sleigh. During the feast, certain foods were always eaten: bread, beans, peas, pork and pig snout and feet. Carolers ( Budeli ) went door to door singing songs and eating from many different houses. The holiday was later adapted by Christians in the middle ages . It is now celebrated on the December 24, 25 and 26 and largely recognized as both a Christian and secular cultural observance. Lithuanians of the Romuva (religion)|Romuva religion continue to celebrate a variant of the original polytheism|polytheistic holiday.

Copyright Citations

This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Winter Solstice


1. Christmas 2. Festivals 3. Dar Williams 4. Capricornus 5. Earth 6. Wolfman 7. 8 8. Brighton 9. Ceremony 10. Dan Deacon 11. Dawn 12. December 13. Green 14. Holiday 15. Inner City Unit 16. John McCutcheon 17. Menhir 18. Midwinter 19. Moon Festival 20. Richard Shindell 21. Sol Invictus 22. Stonehenge 23. Subtle 24. Winter 25. year

Undetermined Music Artists