Solstices are the earth's longest and shortest days of the year. The shortest day often marks the beginning of winter and is thus called the winter solstice. The Northern hemisphere's winter solstice happens in December, when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun. A GREAT way to see the Northern lights!
Because of this, the winter solstice has the fewest hours of sunlight and is the darkest day of the year. Because the exact solstice dates may vary year to year on calendars...meteorologists do not use them to mark the seasons. That means the day of the winter solstice may not correspond with the first day of winter.
Both the summer and winter solstices along with the autumnal and vernal equinoxes help shepherd in the changing of the seasons. Often in various parts of the world families gather to read poetry and share food usually grown in the summer months, like pomegranates and watermelon.
Many ancient festivals include worshiping the heavens and familial ancestors as well as singing the Nines of Winter, a folklore song about the passing of seasons. In Ireland, the Neolithic stone Newgrange is the most common place to mark winter solstice. The ancient tomb marks winter solstice and lights only the shortest day of the year. Newgrange has been celebrated for at least 5000 years!
How will you celebrate the winter solstice, rituals, history, holidays and custom symbolism?
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