Enter the night and you'll find the light,
That will carry you to your dreams.
Enter the night, let your spirit take flight,
In the field of infinite possibilities
December 21, 2022 is this year's Solstice, that of, winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. For those on the Northern side, it's the time of the longest night of the year, daylight at its shortest. For those on the Southern side, it marks the time where daylight reigns supreme and night is at its least. On June 21st of each year, this reality is switched. Because of the earth's tilted axis, upon reaching this day, the Earth's southern part is facing towards the sun whereas the northern part is tilted away. After this day, the days increasingly grow longer with more light in the North or shorter with less light in the South.
Because of this many ancient religions have practiced a variety of spiritual ceremonial traditions throughout the ages during time which have heavily influenced the celebrations in contemporary Western Culture of Christmas and New Year's Eve.
The Ancient Romans honored the God of agriculture, Saturn, beginning on December 17th and lasting for 7 days in a celebration called "Saturnalia". Celebratants enjoyed "Mardi-Gras" like festivals and grudges of all sorts were forgotton during that time period, as well those who were enslaved were temporarily freed, wars were put on hold. A time where discipline and order were relaxed, these holidays were public tradition until the fourth ceremony when the Christian faith became the rule of the land and outlawed such practices. However, celebrations still continue privately.
The feast of Juul is a Scandinavian celebration where fires are burnt to honor the heat, light, and life-giving of the returning Sun. For their god, Thor, the "Yule" or "Juul" log was brought to the hearthstone and lit with the belief that Thor would maintain their warmth through the darkness until the Sun's return. Many traditions allowed the log to become ash which they saved and then scattered on the fields to assist in the growth of their crop, where others did not let the log burn in its entirety but used it as kindling for the following year's celebration.
Dongzhi, loosely translated "extreme of winter" is a celebration from ancient Chinese tradition that believes that the darkness and cold of winter is akin with 'yin' and the lightness and warmth of summer is akin with 'yang'. This celebration is meant to honor the return of yang, the slow ascent of warmth and light.
Alban Arthan, meaning the light of winter, is a tradition from ancient Druid religion that is closest to this Celtic Pagan girl's heart. For the pagan, this moment is that of death and rebirth, where all life is being renewed. Seen as the pagan new year, with the dying of the old sun on December 21st and birth of the New Sun on December 22nd, this time is when a presence mystical fills the earth reviving the lost souls and spirits departed. The most famous place of celebrating Alban Arthan is at "Newgrange" built in 3200 BCE in Ireland (older than Stonehenge).
The meaning and purpose of all of these practices is that of reflection, release, a spiritual,mental,and emotional decluttering. A time of stillness, to bask in the warmth of a fire, releasing with gratitude what has come before and becoming fresh with the beginning of the newness to follow, the return of the light.
On the longest night we search for the light,
And we find it deep within.
Open your eyes to embrace what is wise,
And see the light of your own soul shining.
Articles used for research:
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/winter-solstice-2022
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