A Winter Celebration Of The Sun. Throughout history, societies across the world have held festivals and ceremonies marking winter solstice, the day of
the “sun’s rebirth
.” Most often, winter solstice celebrations honored the symbolism of fire and light, along with life, death, the rising sun, and the moon.
How does the winter solstice affect us?
For us on the northern part of Earth, the shortest day comes at the solstice. After the winter solstice,
the days get longer, and the nights shorter
. It’s a seasonal shift that nearly everyone notices. Earth has seasons because our world is tilted on its axis with respect to our orbit around the sun.
What is the spiritual meaning of winter?
It’s a time of turning inward
. It’s a time of rest. This is the time of the Dark Mother. A time when anything is possible. Just like the sun that is reborn at the Winter Solstice, new possibilities are born within us at this time of year.
What does the solstice mean spiritually?
While the Spring Equinox begins this journey and represents new beginnings, the Summer Solstice represents the next step of this divine rhythm. Always occurring at the start of the Cancer Sun Season, the Summer Solstice reminds us
to turn inward and find the nourishment needed to grow and evolve
.
What is the significance of solstice?
That means
the sun appears at its highest point in the sky
, resulting in the longest period of daylight of the entire year. Winter happens to have a solstice, too, which marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Why is the winter solstice so important?
The winter solstice happens between December 20 and 23, and it’s when the earth’s axis tilts away from the sun, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. … “Today, the winter solstice is a reminder to
honor our connection to the natural world
.”
What is special about the winter solstice?
The winter solstice
mARKS THE LONGEST NIGHT AND SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR FOR THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
. As most are keenly aware, daylight hours grow shorter and shorter as the winter solstice approaches, and begin to slowly lengthen afterward.
Why is it colder after the winter solstice?
As
the earth absorbs the sun’s energy it heats up
. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and when the sun is the lowest in the sky. Therefore, we get the lowest amount of energy, or insolation, from the sun on the solstice.
Does the winter solstice affect your mood?
So when the days start getting significantly shorter, and there’s a limited amount of sunshine, your serotonin levels can drop, causing you to feel a
little moody and melancholy
.
What happens during the solstice?
On two moments each year—what are called solstices—
Earth’s axis is tilted most closely toward the sun
. The hemisphere tilted most toward our home star sees its longest day, while the hemisphere tilted away from the sun sees its longest night.
What does solstice literally mean?
The solstice (combining the Latin words sol for “Sun” and sistere for “To Stand Still”) is
the point where the Sun appears to reach either its highest or lowest point in the sky for the year
and thus ancient astronomers came to know the day as one where the Sun appeared to stand still.
Who celebrates the solstice?
In
ancient China
, the summer solstice was observed by a ceremony to celebrate the Earth, femininity, and the “yin” forces. It complemented the Winter Solstice that celebrated the heavens, masculinity and “yang” forces. According to Chinese tradition, the shortest shadow is found on the day of the Summer Solstice.
What do you eat on winter solstice?
- Dumplings. Dumplings are the most popular Winter Solstice food. …
- Glutinous Rice Balls (Tangyuan) In southern China, Tangyuan is the most popular Dongzhi festival food. …
- Wonton. …
- Mutton Soup. …
- Eight Treasures Porridge. …
- Daikon.
How do Pagans celebrate the winter solstice?
Men dressed as women and masters dressed as servants
. The festival also involved decorating houses with greenery, lighting candles, holding processions and giving presents. The Winter Solstice falls on the shortest day of the year (21st December) and was celebrated in Britain long before the arrival of Christianity.
Who first celebrated the winter solstice?
Originally celebrated by
the Inca
before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, the festivities included feasts and sacrifices, of animals or possibly even children. The Spaniards banned the holiday, but it was revived (with mock sacrifices instead of real ones) in the 20th century and is still celebrated today.
What causes the winter solstice?
The reason for the solstice—and the seasons—is
that Earth is tilted with respect to the sun at an average of 23.5 degrees
. This means the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive unequal amounts of sunlight over a year as we orbit our star.
