Winter solstice
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the astronomical and
cultural event of winter's solstice, also known as
midwinter. For other uses, see
Winter solstice (disambiguation),
Midwinter (disambiguation) or also see
Solstice.
Winter Solstice
Fire kept burning through the longest night of the
year
Also called
Midwinter,
DongZhì,
Yule,
Sabe Cele/Yalda,
Soyal, Te?ufat ?ebet, Seva Zistanê, Solar New
Year, Longest Night
Observed by
Various cultures, ancient and modern
Type
Cultural, Seasonal, Astronomical
Significance
Astronomically marks the middle or beginning of
winter, interpretation varies from culture to
culture, but most hold a recognition of rebirth
Date
The
Solstice of
Winter
December 21 or
22 (NH)
June 21 or
22 (SH)
2007 date
December 22 (UTC
North)
June 21 (UTC
South)
2008 date
December 21 (UTC
North)
June 20 (UTC
South)
Celebrations
Festivals, spending time with loved ones,
feasting, singing, dancing, fire in the hearth
Related to
Winter Festivals and the
Solstice
UTC Date and Time of
Solstice
year
Solstice
June
Solstice
Dec
day
time
day
time
2007
21
18:06
22
06:08
2008
20
23:59
21
12:04
2009
21
05:45
21
17:47
2010
21
11:28
21
23:38
2011
21
17:16
22
05:30
2012
20
23:09
21
11:11
2013
21
05:04
21
17:11
2014
21
10:51
21
23:03
The
winter solstice occurs at the instant when the
Sun's
position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on
the other side of the
equatorial plane as the observer. Depending on the shift
of the calendar, the event of the Winter
solstice occurs sometime between
December 20 and
23 each year in the
Northern hemisphere, and between
June 20 and
23 in the
Southern Hemisphere, and the winter solstice occurs
during either the
shortest day or the
longest
night of the year (not to be confused with the
darkest day or nights). Though the Winter Solstice lasts
an instant, the term is also used to refer to the full
24-hour period.
Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from
culture to culture, but most cultures have held a
recognition of rebirth, involving
holidays,
festivals, gatherings,
rituals or other
celebrations around that time.[1]
The word
solstice derives from
Latin
sol (Sun) and
sistere (stand still),
Winter Solstice meaning
Sun stand still in winter.
[edit]
Date
Calendrically, in most countries the time of the winter
solstice is considered as midwinter. This is evident in
calendars as far back as
Ancient Egypt, whose system of seasons was gauged
according to the flooding of the Nile. For Celtic countries,
such as
Ireland, the calendarical winter season has
traditionally begun
November 1 on
All Hallows or
Samhain. Winter ends and spring begins on
Imbolc or
Candlemas, which is
February 1 or
2. This calendar system of seasons may be based on the
length of days exclusively. Most
East Asian cultures define the seasons by
solar terms, with
Dong zhi at the Winter solstice as the middle or
"Extreme" of winter. This system is based on the sun's tilt.
Some Midwinter festivals have occurred according to
lunar calendars and so took place on the night of
Hoku (Hawaiian:
the full moon closest to the winter solstice). And many
European
solar calendar Midwinter celebrations still centre upon
the night of
December 24th leading into the
25th in the north, which was considered to be the winter
solstice upon the establishment of the
Julian calendar. In Jewish culture,
Te?ufat Tevet, the day of the winter solstice, is
historically known as the first day of the "stripping time"
or winter season.
Persian cultures also recognize it as the beginning of
winter. Recently, many United States calendars have marked
the date on which the winter solstice occurs as the
Astronomical First day of winter as a reference to
the
Tekufah.
Since the time when the 25th was established as the
solstice in Europe the difference between the Julian
calendar year (365.2500 days) and the
tropical year (365.2422 days) moved the day associated
with the actual astronomical solstice forward approximately
three days every four centuries until
1582 when
Pope Gregory XIII changed the calendar bringing the
northern winter solstice to around December 21st. In the
Gregorian calendar the solstice still moves around a
bit, but only about one day in 3000 years.
The figures above show the differences between the Gregorian
calendar (Figure 1: using 1 leap year per 4 years) and
Persian Persian Jalali calendar (Figure 2: using the
33-year arithmetic approximation) in reference to the actual
yearly time of the winter solstice of the northern
hemisphere, the December solstice. The Y axis is
"days error" and the X axis is Gregorian calendar years.
Each point represents a single date on a given year. The
error shifts by about 1/4 day per year, and is corrected by
a leap year every 4th year regularly, and in the case of the
Persian calendar also one 5 year leap period to complete a
33-year cycle, keeping the Persian winter solstice holiday
on the same day every year.
[edit]
History & Cultural significance
Astronomical events, which during ancient times allowed
for the scheduling of mating, sowing of crops and metering
of winter reserves between harvests, show how various
cultural mythologies and traditions have arisen. On the
night of Winter Solstice, as seen from a northern sky, the
three stars in
Orion's belt align with the brightest star in the
Eastern sky
Sirius to show where the Sun will rise in the morning
after Winter Solstice. Until this time, the Sun has
exhibited since
Summer Solstice a decreasing arc across the Southern
sky. On Winter Solstice, the Sun ceased to decline in the
sky and the length of daylight reaches its minimum for three
days. At such a time, the Sun begins its ascent and days
grow longer. Thus the interpretation by many cultures of a
sun reborn and a return to light. This return to light is
again celebrated (at the
vernal equinox, when the length of day equals that of
night.
The solstice itself may have remained a special moment of
the annual cycle of the year since
neolithic times. This is attested by physical remains in
the layouts of late Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological
sites like Stonehenge in Britain and Brú na Bóinne (New
Grange) in Ireland. The primary axes of both of these
monuments seem to have been carefully aligned on a
sight-line framing the winter solstice sunrise (New
Grange)and the winter solstice sunset (Stonehenge). The
winter solstice may have been immensely important because
communities were not assured to live through the winter, and
had to be prepared during the previous nine months.
Starvation was common in winter between January to
April, also known as the
famine months. In temperate climates, the midwinter
festival was the last feast
celebration, before deep winter began. Most cattle were
slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the
winter, so it was nearly the only time of year when a supply
of fresh meat was available. The majority of
wine and
beer made during the year was finally
fermented and ready for drinking at this time. The
concentration of the observances were not always on the day
commencing at
midnight or at
dawn, but the beginning of the pre-Romanized day, which
falls on the previous
eve.[2]
[edit]
Explanations for parallel
traditions
[edit]
Symbolic
Often since the event is observed as the reversal of the
Sun's
ebbing presence in the sky, concepts of the birth or
rebirth of
sun gods 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 deities or new beginnings such
as
Hogmanay's redding, a
New Years cleaning tradition. Also reversal is
another usual theme as in
Saturnalia's slave and master reversals.
[edit]
Migration and appropriation
Many outside traditions are often adopted by neighboring
or invading cultures. Some historians will often assert that
many traditions are directly derived from previous ones
rooting all the way back to those begun in the
cradle of civilization or beyond, much in a way that
correlates to speculations on the
origins of languages.
[edit]
Therapeutic
Even in modern cultures these gatherings are still valued
for emotional comfort, having something to look forward to
at the darkest time of the year. This is especially the case
for populations in the near
polar regions of the hemisphere. The depressive
psychological effects of winter on individuals and
societies for that matter, are for the most part tied to
coldness, tiredness,
malaise, and inactivity. Winter
weather, plus being indoors causes negative
ion
deficiency which decreases
serotonin levels resulting in
depression and tiredness. Also, getting insufficient
light in the short winter days increases the secretion of
melatonin in the body, off balancing the
circadian rhythm with longer sleep. Exercise,
light therapy, increased negative
ion
exposure (which can be attained from plants and well
ventilated flames burning wood or
beeswax) can reinvigorate the body from its seasonal
lull and relieve winter blues by shortening the
melatonin secretions, increasing serotonin and temporarily
creating a more even sleeping pattern. Midwinter festivals
and celebrations occurring on the longest night of the year,
often calling for
evergreens, bright illumination, large ongoing fires,
feasting, communion with close ones, and evening physical
exertion by dancing and singing are examples of cultural
winter therapies that have evolved as traditions since the
beginnings of civilization. Such traditions can stir the
wit,
stave off malaise, reset the
internal clock and rekindle the human spirit.[3][4]
[edit]
Observances
The following is an alphabetical list of observances
believed to be directly linked to the winter solstice. For
other Winter observances see
List of winter festivals.:
Japanese Sun Goddess Amaterasu emerging from a
cave.
[edit]
Amaterasu celebration, Requiem of
the Dead (7th
century
Japan)
-
In late
seventh century
Japan, festivities were held to celebrate the
reemergence of
Amaterasu or Amateras (Hindu),
the
sun goddess of
Japanese mythology, from her seclusion in a cave.
Tricked by the other gods with a loud celebration, she peeks
out to look and finds the image of herself in a mirror and
is convinced by the other gods to return, bringing sunlight
back to the universe.
Requiems for the dead were held and
Manzai and Shishimai were performed throughout the
night, awaiting the sunrise. Aspects of this tradition have
continued to this day on New Years.[5]
[edit]
Beiwe Festival (Sámi
of
Northern
Fennoscandia)
- See also:
Beiwe
The
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 with the meat, thread
and sticks, bed into rings with ribbons. They also cover
their doorposts with butter so Beiwe can eat it and begin
her journey once again.[6]
[edit]
Choimus, Chaomos (Kalash
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".[7]
[edit]
Christmas, Natalis Domini (4th
century
Rome,
11th century
England,
Christian)
-
Christmas or Christ's Mass is one of most
popular
Christian celebrations as well as one of the most
globally recognized midwinter celebrations. Christmas is the
celebration of the birth of the
God
Incarnate or
Messiah,
Yeshua of
Nazareth, later known as Jesus Christ. The birth is
observed on December 25th, which was the winter solstice
upon establishment of the Julian Calendar in
45
BC. Banned by the
Catholic Church in its infancy as a
pagan, or non-Abrahamic, practice stemming out of
the Sol Invictus celebrations, Christians revitalized
its recognition as an authentic Christian festival in
various cultures within the past several hundred years,
preserving much of the folklore and traditions of local
pagan festivals. So today, the old festivals such as
Jul, ?????? and Karácsony,
are still celebrated in many parts of Europe, but the
Christian Nativity is now often representational of the
meaning. This is why
Yule and Christmas are considered
interchangeable in
Anglo-Christendom.
Universal activities include feasting,
midnight masses and singing
Christmas carols about the Nativity. Good deeds
and gift giving in the tradition of
St. Nicholas by not admitting to being the actual gift
giver is also observed by some countries. Many observe the
holiday for
twelve days leading up to the
Epiphany.
[edit]
Deuorius Riuri (Gaul)
Deuorius Riuri was the annual great divine
winter feast, observed by the
Coligny Calendar. The lunisolar Coligney Midwinter
returned to solar alignment every two and a half years.[8]
[edit]
Deygan (Zoroastrian)
The last day of the Persian month Azar is the longest
night of the year, when the forces of
Ahriman are assumed to be at the peak of their strength.
While the next day, the first day of the month Dey
known as khoram ruz or khore ruz (the day of
sun) belongs to
Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Wisdom. 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.[9]
[edit]
DongZhì Festival, Toji Festival
(East
Asia,
Vietnam, and
Buddhist)
Families eat pink and white
tangyuan, symbolizing family unity and
prosperity.
-
The Winter Solstice Festival or The Extreme of
Winter (Chinese
and
Japanese: ??;
Korean: ??;
Vietnamese: Ðông chí)
(Pinyin:
Dong zhì), (Romaji:
Toji) is one of the most important festivals
celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the
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
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
Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating
of
Tangyuan (??, as pronounced in
Cantonese;
Mandarin
Pinyin: Tang Yuán) or balls of glutinous rice,
which symbolize reunion.
[edit]
Goru (Dogon
of
Mali)
Goru is the (December) winter solstice ceremony of
the
Pays Dogon of
Mali. It is the last harvest ritual and celebrates the
arrival of humanity from the sky god,
Amma, via
Nommo inside the Aduno Koro, or the "Ark of the
World".[10]
[edit]
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
Norse who celebrated a solstitial new year (England
celebrated the new year on
March 25th). In 1600 with the Scottish application of
the
January 1st New year and the churches persistent
abolition of the solstice celebrations, the holiday
traditions moved to
December 31. The festival is still referred to as the
Yules by the
Scots of the
Shetland Islands who start the festival on December 18th
and hold the last tradition, (a
Troll chasing ritual) on January 18th. The most
widespread Scottish custom is the practice of
first-footing which starts immediately after
midnight on New Years. This involves being the first person
(usually tall and dark haired) to cross the threshold of a
friend or neighbor 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.[11]
[edit]
Inti Raymi (Inca,
Peru)
Inti Raimi
-
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.[12][13]
[edit]
Junkanoo, Jonkonnu, John Canoe
(West
Africa,
Bahamas,
Jamaica,
19th-century
North Carolina)
-
Junkanoo, in the Bahamas, Junkunno or
Jonkanoo, in Jamaica, is a fantastic masquerade, parade
and street festival, believed to be of West African origin.
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
fifes,
drums, and
coconut
graters 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. Both John Canoe and wassailing bear
strong resemblance to the social inversion rituals that
marked the ancient Roman celebration of
Saturnalia.
[edit]
Karachun (Ancient
Western Slavic)
-
Karachun, Korochun or Kracún was a
Slavic holiday similar to
Halloween as a day when the
Black God and other evil spirits are most potent. It was
celebrated by
Slavs on the longest night of the year. On this night,
Hors, symbolising old sun, becomes smaller as the days
become shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, and dies on
December 22nd, the December solstice. It is said to be
defeated by the dark and evil powers of the Black God. In
honour of the god, Hors, 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
December 23rd Hors is resurrected and becomes the new
sun,
Koleda. Modern scholars tend to associate this holiday
with the
ancestor worship. On this day,
Western Slavs burned fires at cemeteries to keep their
loved ones warm, they organized dinings in the honor of the
dead so as they would not suffer from hunger. They also lit
wooden logs at local crossroads.
[edit]
Koleda, ??????, Sviatki, Dazh Boh
(Ancient
Eastern Slavic and
Sarmatian)
This article or section is
in need of attention from an expert on the subject.
WikiProject History or the
History Portal may be able to help recruit one.
If a more appropriate
WikiProject or
portal exists, please adjust this template
accordingly.
In ancient Slavonic cultures, the festival of Kaleda
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 Revolution. Each family made a fire in their
hearth and invited their personal household Gods to join in
the festivities. Children disguise themselves on evenings
and nights and as
Koledari, visited houses and sang wishes of good
luck, like
Shchedryk, to hosts. As a reward, they were given
little gifts, a tradition called Kolyadovanie, much
like the old
wassailing or
mummers Tradition.[14][15]
[edit]
Lenæa, Brumalia (Ancient
and
Hellenistic Greece,
Roman Kingdom)
-
In the
Aegean civilizations, the exclusively female midwinter
ritual, Lenaea or Lenaia, was the Festival
of the Wild Women. In the forest, a man or bull
representing the harvest god,
Dionysus, was torn to pieces and eaten by
Maenads. Later in the ritual, a baby, representing
Dionysus reborn, was presented. The Ageans dedicated their
first month of the Delian calendar, Lenaion, to the
festival's name. By
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 into a room overnight and the next
day it would have turned into wine. The miracle was said to
have been performed by Dionysus and the
Lenaians. By the
5th century BC the ritual had become a
Gamelion festival for theatrical competitions, often
held in Athens in the Lenaion theater. The festival
influenced Brumalia which was an
ancient Roman solstice festival honoring
Bacchus, generally held for a month and ending
December 25. The festival included drinking and
merriment. The name is derived from the Greek word bruma,
meaning "shortest day", though the festivities almost always
occurred at night.[16][17][18]
[edit]
Lucia, Feast of St. Lucy (Ancient
Swedish,
Scandinavian
Lutheran,
Eastern Orthodox)
Lucia or Lussi Night happened on
December 13, what was supposed to be the longest night
of the year. The feast was later appropriated by the
Catholic Church in the
16th century as
St. Lucy's Day. It was believed in the
folklore of Sweden that if people, particularly
children, did not carry out their chores, the female
demon, the Lussi or Lucia die dunkle would
come to punish them.[19]
[edit]
Makara Sankranti (India
and
Nepal,
Hindu)
-
Makara Sankranti, celebrated at the beginning of
Uttarayanais, 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. In
Assam it is called Magh Bihu (the First day of
Magh), in
Punjab, Lohri and in Maharshtra it is called
Tilgul, but the place where it is celebrated with much
pomp is Andhra Pradesh, where the festival is celebrated for
3 days and is more of a cultural festival unlike an
auspicious day as in other parts of india. In some parts of
India, the festival is celebrated by taking dips in the
Ganga or any river and offering water to the Sun god.
The dip is said to purify the self and bestow
punya. In many countries, families fly
kites from their roofs all day and into the night. In
Assam on Bihu Eve or Uruka families build
bhelaghar, house like structures, and separate large
bhelaghar are built by the community as a whole. Twine of
sorts are tied around fruit trees. Out of tradition, fuel is
stolen for the final ceremony, when all the bhelaghar are
burned. Their remains are then placed at the fruit trees.
Special
puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest.
Since the festival is celebrated in the mid winter, the food
prepared for this festival are such that they keep the body
warm and give high energy.
Laddu of til made with Jaggery (Gur)is specialty
of the festival.[20]
[edit]
Meán Geimhridh, Celtic Midwinter
(Celtic,
Ancient Welsh,
Neodruidic)
Meán Geimhridh (Irish tr: Midwinter) or
Grianstad an Gheimhridh (Ir tr: Winter solstice) is a
name sometimes used for hypothetical Midwinter rituals or
celebrations of the
Proto-Celtic
Neolithic tribes,
Celts, and late
Druids. In
Ireland's calendars, the solstices and
equinoxes 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.
[edit]
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 supposedly in
remembrance of the festival that was celebrated by the
Druids. 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.
[edit]
Alban Arthan (Neodruidic)
-
- In
England, during the
18th century, there was a revival of interest in
Druids. Today, amongst
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.
[edit]
Midvinterblót (Swedish
folk religion)
-
In
Sweden and many surrounding parts of
Europe,
polytheistic tribes celebrated a Midvinterblot or
mid-winter-sacrifice, featuring both animal and human
sacrifice. The
blot was performed by
goði, or priests, at certain cult sites, most of
which have churches built upon them now. Midvinterblot paid
tribute to the local gods, appealing to them to let go
winter's grip. The
folk tradition was finally abandoned by
1200, due to
missionary persistence.
[edit]
Modranicht, Modresnach (Anglo-Saxon,
Germanic)
The Night of Mothers or Mothers' Night was
an
Anglo-Saxon and
Germanic feast. It was believed that dreams on this
night foretold events in the upcoming year. While it may
originally have occurred the night before
Samhain according to a lunar calendar, it has moved
around quite a bit in the year. By
730,
It was thought by
Bede to be observed by the
Anglicans on the winter solstice. After the reemergence
of Christmas in
Britain it was recognized by many as one of the
12 Days of Christmas.[21][22]
[edit]
Perchta ritual (Germania,
Alps)
-
Early
Germans (c.500-1000)
considered the Norse goddess,
Hertha or Bertha to be the goddess of Light,
Domesticity and the home. They baked yeast cakes shaped like
shoes, which were called Hertha's slippers, and
filled with gifts. "During the Winter Solstice houses were
decked with fir and evergreens to welcome her coming. When
the family and serfs were gathered to dine, a great altar of
flat stones was erected and here a fire of fir boughs was
laid. Hertha descended through the smoke, guiding those who
were wise in saga lore to foretell the fortunes of those
persons at the feast".[23]
There are also darker versions of Perchta which terrorize
children along with
Krampus. Many cities had practices of dramatizing the
gods as characters roaming the streets. These traditions
have continued in the rural regions of the
Alps, as well various similar traditions, such as
Wren day, survived in the
Celtic nations until recently.
[edit]
Rozhanitsa Feast (12th
century
Eastern Slavic
Russian)
In twelfth 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.[24]
[edit]
Shabe Celle, ???? , Yalda (2nd
millenium BC
Persian,
Iranian)
-
Derived from a pre-zoroastrian festival, Shabe Chelle
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 & it has been long celebratd in Iran by all
ethnic/religious groups. According to Persian mythology,
Mithra was born at the end of this night after the long
expected defeat of darkness against Light. "Shabe Chelle" 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 &
Pomegranates are traditional symbols of this
celebration, all representing the Sun. It used to be
customary to keep awake the Yalda night untill sunrise
eating, drinking, listenning to stories & 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
Syric Christians fled from persecution into the
Sassanid Empire of Persia, introducing the term Yalda,
meaning birth, causing Shabe Yalda to became
synonymous with Shabe Chelle.
[25]
[edit]
Sanghamitta Day (Buddhist)
Sanghamitta is in honor of the
Buddhist nun who brought a branch of the
Bodhi tree to
SriLanka where it has flourished for over 2,000 years.
[edit]
Saturnalia, Chronia (Ancient
Greek,
Roman Republic)
-
Originally Celebrated by the Ancient Greeks as Kronia
the festival of
Chronos, Saturnalia was the
feast at which the
Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of
Saturn, which originally took place on
17 December, but expanded to a whole week, up to
23 December. A large and important public festival in
Rome, it involved the conventional sacrifices, a couch set
in front of the temple of
Saturn and the untying of the ropes that bound the
statue of Saturn during the rest of the year. Besides the
public
rites 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 (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
Cypriot folklore it was believed that children born
during the festival were in danger of turning into
Kallikantzaros which come out of the earth after the
solstice to cause trouble for mortals. Some would leave
colanders on their doorsteps to distract them until the
sun returned.
[edit]
Seva Zistanê (Kurdish)
The Night of Winter (Kurdish:
Seva Zistanê) is an unofficial holiday celebrated by
communities throughout the
Kurdistan region in the Middle East. The night is
considered one of the oldest holidays still observed by
modern
Kurds and was celebrated by ancient tribes in the region
as a holy day. The holiday falls every year on the Winter
Solstice. 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
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.
Possible Christ as Sol Invictus riding in his
chariot. Third century mosaic in
Pope Julii's tomb.
[edit]
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 applied to at least three distinct
divinities during the later
Roman Empire;
El Gabal,
Mithras, and
Sol.
A festival of the birth of the Unconquered Sun (or
Dies Natalis Solis Invicti) was celebrated when the
duration of daylight first begins to increase after the
winter solstice, — the "rebirth" of the sun. The Sol
Invictus festival ran from December 22 through December 25,
which at that time was at the solstice. With the growing
popularity of the Christian cults,
Jesus of Nazareth came to adopt much of the recognition
previously given to a sun god, there by, including
Christ into the tradition. This was later condemned by
the early Catholic Church for its pagan practices and
for associating the Christ with the other sun gods.
[edit]
Soyal (Zuni
and
Hopi of
North America)
-
Soyalangwul is the winter solstice ceremony of the
Zuni and the Hopitu Shinumu, "The Peaceful Ones", also
known as the
Hopi Indians. It is held on December 21st, 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.[26][27]
[edit]
Te?ufat ?ebet (Jewish)
-
Tekufah
Tevet is one of four Tekufot (Hebrew:
??????), solstices and
equinoxes recognized by the
Talmudical writers. Te?ufat
Tevet, the winter solstice, the beginning of winter, or
"'et ha-?oref" (stripping-time) was when
Jephthah sacrificed his daughter . A long standing
superstition is that on any of the Tekufot, water
that is kept in vessels turned poisonous and must be thrown
out. Some believed the poisoning could be prevented by
placing iron in the water over the Tekufot.[28]
This observations solemness is unlike its proximal holiday,
Hanukkah, a celebration which became prominent as it was
influenced by Christmas traditions.
[edit]
Wayeb (Maya)
Wayeb' or Uayeb, referencing the unlucky
god N, were actually five nameless days leading up to
the end of the
Haab, the solar
Maya calendar. It was thought to be a dangerous time in
which there were no divisions between the mortal and
immortal worlds, and deitys were free to cause disaster if
they willed it. To ward off the spirits, the Maya had a
variety of customs they practiced during this period. For
example, people avoided leaving their houses or grooming
their hair.
Calendar Round rituals would be held at the end of each
52 year round (coincidence of the three Maya calendars),
4 wayeb to 1 Imix 0 Pop, with all fires
extinguished, old pots broken, and a new fire ceremony
symbolizing a fresh start. The next Calendar Round will be
on the winter solstice of 2012, beginning a new
baktun. Haab' observations are still held by Maya
communities in the highlands of
Guatemala.[29]
[edit]
Yule, Jul, Jól, Joul, Joulu,
Jõulud, Géol, Geul (Viking
Age,
Northern Europe)
-
Originally the name Giuli signified a 60 day tide
beginning at the lunar midwinter of the late Scandinavian
Norse and
Germanic tribes. The arrival of Juletid thus came
to refer to the midwinter celebrations. By the late
Viking Age, the Yule celebrations came to specify
a great solstitial Midwinter festival that amalgamated the
traditions of various midwinter celebrations across Europe,
like Mitwinternacht, Modrasnach,
Midvinterblot, and the
Teutonic solstice celebration, Feast of the Dead.
A documented example of this is in
960,
when King Håkon of
Norway signed into law that Jul was to be
celebrated December 25, to align it with the Christian
celebrations. For some Norse sects,
Yule logs were lit to honor
Thor, the god of thunder. Feasting would continue until
the log burned out, three or as many as twelve days. The
indigenous lore of the
Icelandic Jól continued beyond the
Middle Ages, but was condemned when the
Reformation arrived. The celebration continues today
throughout
Northern Europe and elsewhere in name and traditions,
for
Christians as representative of the
nativity of Jesus, and for others as a cultural winter
celebration.[30]
[edit]
Yule, Yulefest, Jul, Jól, Joulu
(secular,
Anglospherean,
Northern European and
Germanic cultures)
-
- Amongst
Anglosphereans, Yule or Yuletide is
also a celebrated
secular alternative to "Christmas", commonly
occurring on the winter solstice or December 24th and
25th, in the northern hemisphere. In the southern
hemisphere it is often celebrated on the winter solstice
or some time through early
July. The earliest recorded
Australian midwinter bonfire was lit in
Moonta, the night leading into
June 24,
1862, by
Cornish immigrants carrying on the European
Midsummer tradition. The midwinter bonfire holiday
also began in
Burra soon after. Currently, Yulefest is
observed by various Australians, often starting on a
weekend in late
June. The contemporary Scandinavian Jul,
Julfest, Jól or Joulu is primarily a
cultural observance and does not distinguish between the
Germanic feast, the Christian Christmas, the secular
Yule, the Neopagan Yule, or the
pre-Indo-European winter solstice celebration and is
also occasionally used to denote other holidays in
December, e.g., "jødisk jul" or "judisk jul" (tr.
"Jewish Yule") for
Hanukkah.[31]
[edit]
Jul (Germanic
Neopaganism)
-
- In
Germanic Neopagan sects, Yule is celebrated with
gatherings that often involve a meal and gift giving.
Further attempts at reconstruction of surviving accounts
of historical celebrations are often made, a hallmark
being variations of the traditional. However it has been
pointed out that this is not really reconstruction as
these traditions never died out - they have merely
removed the Christian elements from the celebration and
replaced the event at the solstice.
- The Icelandic
Ásatrú and the
Asatru Folk Assembly in the US recognize Jól
or Yule as lasting for 12 days, beginning on the
date of the winter solstice.[32]
[edit]
Yule (Wiccan)
-
- In
Wicca, a form of the holiday is observed as one of
the eight solar holidays, or
Sabbat. In most Wiccan sects, this holiday is
celebrated as the rebirth of the Great God, who is
viewed as the newborn solstice sun. Although the name
Yule has been appropriated from Germanic paganism,
the celebration itself is of modern origin.
[edit]
Zagmuk, Sacaea (Ancient
Mesopotamia,
Sumerian,
Babylonian)
-
Adapting the Egyptian Osiris Celebrations, the
Babylonians held the annual renewal or new year
celebration, the Zagmuk Festival. It Lasted 12 days
overlapping 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
masquerades clogged the streets. This has been a
suggested precursor to the Festival of Kronos,
Saturnalia and possibly
Purim.[33][34]
[edit]
Ziemassvetki (Latvian,
Baltic,
Romuva)
-
In ancient
Latvia, Ziemassvetki, meaning winter festival,
was celebrated on
December 24 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
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 Ghousts, 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 24th, 25th and
26th of December and largely recognized as both a Christian
and secular cultural observance.
Lithuanians of the
Romuva religion continue to celebrate a variant of the
original
polytheistic holiday.
[edit]
See also
[edit]
Winter observances
[edit]
Sources
- ^
ReligiousTolerance.org
- ^
An Ancient Holiday History Channel
- ^
Q&A on Bright Light Therapy Columbia
University
- ^
Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital
- ^
University of Connecticut
- ^
School of the Seasons
- ^
Madsen, Loren. Despite Everything Davka.org
- ^
Celtic Yule Rituals ADF Druid Fellowship
- ^
The Iranian, History
- ^
New York Metropolitan Museum
- ^
UK History
-
^
Mostrey, Dimitri InfoPeru.com
- ^
Minnesota University
-
^
Winter solstice Adventure Calendar
-
^
Koleda
- ^
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. 246
- ^
Correspondences 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.9
- ^
The Miracle of the Wine at Dionysos' Advent; On the
Lenaea Festival, by J. Vürtheim The Classical
Quarterly, 1920. Vol. 14, No. 2, p.94
- ^
Griffith University, The Centre for Public Culture
and Ideas
- ^
Margaret Read MacDonald (1992). The Folklore of
World Holidays, Chapter: circa December 21.
- ^
Jones, Prudence & Pennick, Nigel. A History of Pagan
Europe. Routledge; NY,NY (1997)
pp.122-125.
- ^
Internet Sacred Texts Archive
-
^ Hottes,
Alfred Carl, 1001 Christmas Facts and Fancies, NY:
De La Mare,
1937.
- ^
Kelly, Mary B. Goddesses and Their Offspring, NY:
Binghamton (1990)
- ^
The Iranian, History
- ^
Bahti, Tom. "Southwestern Indian Ceremonials". KC
Publications (1970)
p36-40.]
- ^
HOPI: The Real Thing
- ^
Abudarham, Sha'ar ha-Te?ufot, p. 122a, Venice, 1566
- ^
Foster, Lynn V. Handbook to Life in the Ancient
Mayan World. New York: Facts on File. (2002).
- ^
Jones, Prudence & Pennick, Nigel. A History of Pagan
Europe. Routledge; NY,NY (1997)
pp.122-125.
- ^
Samuels, Brian. Aspects of Australian Folklife
- ^
Asatru Folk Assembly
- ^
Ruano, Teresa Sacaea-Saturnalia.
Candlegrove.com
- ^
Morrison, Dorothy. Yule: A Celebration of Light and
Warmth. Llewellyn Publications (2000)
Categories:
History articles needing expert attention |
Articles needing expert attention |
Winter festivals |
Winter holidays |
Secular holidays |
December observances |
June observances |
Astronomical events
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the astronomical and cultural event of winter's solstice, also known as midwinter. For other uses, see Winter solstice (disambiguation), Midwinter (disambiguation) or also see Solstice.
| Winter Solstice | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Fire kept burning through the longest night of the year | |
| Also called | Midwinter, DongZhì, Yule, Sabe Cele/Yalda, Soyal, Te?ufat ?ebet, Seva Zistanê, Solar New Year, Longest Night |
| Observed by | Various cultures, ancient and modern |
| Type | Cultural, Seasonal, Astronomical |
| Significance | Astronomically marks the middle or beginning of winter, interpretation varies from culture to culture, but most hold a recognition of rebirth |
| Date | The
Solstice of
Winter December 21 or 22 (NH) June 21 or 22 (SH) |
| 2007 date |
December 22 (UTC
North) June 21 (UTC South) |
| 2008 date |
December 21 (UTC
North) June 20 (UTC South) |
| Celebrations | Festivals, spending time with loved ones, feasting, singing, dancing, fire in the hearth |
| Related to | Winter Festivals and the Solstice |
| year | Solstice June |
Solstice Dec |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| day | time | day | time | |
| 2007 | 21 | 18:06 | 22 | 06:08 |
| 2008 | 20 | 23:59 | 21 | 12:04 |
| 2009 | 21 | 05:45 | 21 | 17:47 |
| 2010 | 21 | 11:28 | 21 | 23:38 |
| 2011 | 21 | 17:16 | 22 | 05:30 |
| 2012 | 20 | 23:09 | 21 | 11:11 |
| 2013 | 21 | 05:04 | 21 | 17:11 |
| 2014 | 21 | 10:51 | 21 | 23:03 |
The winter solstice occurs at the instant when the Sun's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane as the observer. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the event of the Winter solstice occurs sometime between December 20 and 23 each year in the Northern hemisphere, and between June 20 and 23 in the Southern Hemisphere, and the winter solstice occurs during either the shortest day or the longest night of the year (not to be confused with the darkest day or nights). Though the Winter Solstice lasts an instant, the term is also used to refer to the full 24-hour period.
Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time.[1]
The word solstice derives from Latin sol (Sun) and sistere (stand still), Winter Solstice meaning Sun stand still in winter.
[edit] Date
Calendrically, in most countries the time of the winter solstice is considered as midwinter. This is evident in calendars as far back as Ancient Egypt, whose system of seasons was gauged according to the flooding of the Nile. For Celtic countries, such as Ireland, the calendarical winter season has traditionally begun November 1 on All Hallows or Samhain. Winter ends and spring begins on Imbolc or Candlemas, which is February 1 or 2. This calendar system of seasons may be based on the length of days exclusively. Most East Asian cultures define the seasons by solar terms, with Dong zhi at the Winter solstice as the middle or "Extreme" of winter. This system is based on the sun's tilt. Some Midwinter festivals have occurred according to lunar calendars and so took place on the night of Hoku (Hawaiian: the full moon closest to the winter solstice). And many European solar calendar Midwinter celebrations still centre upon the night of December 24th leading into the 25th in the north, which was considered to be the winter solstice upon the establishment of the Julian calendar. In Jewish culture, Te?ufat Tevet, the day of the winter solstice, is historically known as the first day of the "stripping time" or winter season. Persian cultures also recognize it as the beginning of winter. Recently, many United States calendars have marked the date on which the winter solstice occurs as the Astronomical First day of winter as a reference to the Tekufah.
Since the time when the 25th was established as the
solstice in Europe the difference between the Julian
calendar year (365.2500 days) and the
tropical year (365.2422 days) moved the day associated
with the actual astronomical solstice forward approximately
three days every four centuries until
1582 when
Pope Gregory XIII changed the calendar bringing the
northern winter solstice to around December 21st. In the
Gregorian calendar the solstice still moves around a
bit, but only about one day in 3000 years.
The figures above show the differences between the Gregorian
calendar (Figure 1: using 1 leap year per 4 years) and
Persian Persian Jalali calendar (Figure 2: using the
33-year arithmetic approximation) in reference to the actual
yearly time of the winter solstice of the northern
hemisphere, the December solstice. The Y axis is
"days error" and the X axis is Gregorian calendar years.
Each point represents a single date on a given year. The
error shifts by about 1/4 day per year, and is corrected by
a leap year every 4th year regularly, and in the case of the
Persian calendar also one 5 year leap period to complete a
33-year cycle, keeping the Persian winter solstice holiday
on the same day every year.
[edit] History & Cultural significance
Astronomical events, which during ancient times allowed for the scheduling of mating, sowing of crops and metering of winter reserves between harvests, show how various cultural mythologies and traditions have arisen. On the night of Winter Solstice, as seen from a northern sky, the three stars in Orion's belt align with the brightest star in the Eastern sky Sirius to show where the Sun will rise in the morning after Winter Solstice. Until this time, the Sun has exhibited since Summer Solstice a decreasing arc across the Southern sky. On Winter Solstice, the Sun ceased to decline in the sky and the length of daylight reaches its minimum for three days. At such a time, the Sun begins its ascent and days grow longer. Thus the interpretation by many cultures of a sun reborn and a return to light. This return to light is again celebrated (at the vernal equinox, when the length of day equals that of night.
The solstice itself may have remained a special moment of the annual cycle of the year since neolithic times. This is attested by physical remains in the layouts of late Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites like Stonehenge in Britain and Brú na Bóinne (New Grange) in Ireland. The primary axes of both of these monuments seem to have been carefully aligned on a sight-line framing the winter solstice sunrise (New Grange)and the winter solstice sunset (Stonehenge). The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities were not assured to live through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months. Starvation was common in winter between January to April, also known as the famine months. In temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration, before deep winter began. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was nearly the only time of year when a supply of fresh meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time. The concentration of the observances were not always on the day commencing at midnight or at dawn, but the beginning of the pre-Romanized day, which falls on the previous eve.[2]
[edit] Explanations for parallel traditions
[edit] Symbolic
Often since the event is observed as the reversal of the Sun's ebbing presence in the sky, concepts of the birth or rebirth of sun gods 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 deities or new beginnings such as Hogmanay's redding, a New Years cleaning tradition. Also reversal is another usual theme as in Saturnalia's slave and master reversals.
[edit] Migration and appropriation
Many outside traditions are often adopted by neighboring or invading cultures. Some historians will often assert that many traditions are directly derived from previous ones rooting all the way back to those begun in the cradle of civilization or beyond, much in a way that correlates to speculations on the origins of languages.
[edit] Therapeutic
Even in modern cultures these gatherings are still valued for emotional comfort, having something to look forward to at the darkest time of the year. This is especially the case for populations in the near polar regions of the hemisphere. The depressive psychological effects of winter on individuals and societies for that matter, are for the most part tied to coldness, tiredness, malaise, and inactivity. Winter weather, plus being indoors causes negative ion deficiency which decreases serotonin levels resulting in depression and tiredness. Also, getting insufficient light in the short winter days increases the secretion of melatonin in the body, off balancing the circadian rhythm with longer sleep. Exercise, light therapy, increased negative ion exposure (which can be attained from plants and well ventilated flames burning wood or beeswax) can reinvigorate the body from its seasonal lull and relieve winter blues by shortening the melatonin secretions, increasing serotonin and temporarily creating a more even sleeping pattern. Midwinter festivals and celebrations occurring on the longest night of the year, often calling for evergreens, bright illumination, large ongoing fires, feasting, communion with close ones, and evening physical exertion by dancing and singing are examples of cultural winter therapies that have evolved as traditions since the beginnings of civilization. Such traditions can stir the wit, stave off malaise, reset the internal clock and rekindle the human spirit.[3][4]
[edit] Observances
The following is an alphabetical list of observances
believed to be directly linked to the winter solstice. For
other Winter observances see
List of winter festivals.:
[edit] Amaterasu celebration, Requiem of the Dead (7th century Japan)
In late seventh century Japan, festivities were held to celebrate the reemergence of Amaterasu or Amateras (Hindu), the sun goddess of Japanese mythology, from her seclusion in a cave. Tricked by the other gods with a loud celebration, she peeks out to look and finds the image of herself in a mirror and is convinced by the other gods to return, bringing sunlight back to the universe. Requiems for the dead were held and Manzai and Shishimai were performed throughout the night, awaiting the sunrise. Aspects of this tradition have continued to this day on New Years.[5]
[edit] Beiwe Festival (Sámi of Northern Fennoscandia)
- See also: Beiwe
The 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 with the meat, thread and sticks, bed into rings with ribbons. They also cover their doorposts with butter so Beiwe can eat it and begin her journey once again.[6]
[edit] Choimus, Chaomos (Kalash 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".[7]
[edit] Christmas, Natalis Domini (4th century Rome, 11th century England, Christian)
Christmas or Christ's Mass is one of most popular Christian celebrations as well as one of the most globally recognized midwinter celebrations. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the God Incarnate or Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth, later known as Jesus Christ. The birth is observed on December 25th, which was the winter solstice upon establishment of the Julian Calendar in 45 BC. Banned by the Catholic Church in its infancy as a pagan, or non-Abrahamic, practice stemming out of the Sol Invictus celebrations, Christians revitalized its recognition as an authentic Christian festival in various cultures within the past several hundred years, preserving much of the folklore and traditions of local pagan festivals. So today, the old festivals such as Jul, ?????? and Karácsony, are still celebrated in many parts of Europe, but the Christian Nativity is now often representational of the meaning. This is why Yule and Christmas are considered interchangeable in Anglo-Christendom. Universal activities include feasting, midnight masses and singing Christmas carols about the Nativity. Good deeds and gift giving in the tradition of St. Nicholas by not admitting to being the actual gift giver is also observed by some countries. Many observe the holiday for twelve days leading up to the Epiphany.
[edit] Deuorius Riuri (Gaul)
Deuorius Riuri was the annual great divine winter feast, observed by the Coligny Calendar. The lunisolar Coligney Midwinter returned to solar alignment every two and a half years.[8]
[edit] Deygan (Zoroastrian)
The last day of the Persian month Azar is the longest night of the year, when the forces of Ahriman are assumed to be at the peak of their strength. While the next day, the first day of the month Dey known as khoram ruz or khore ruz (the day of sun) belongs to Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Wisdom. 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.[9]
[edit] DongZhì Festival, Toji Festival (East Asia, Vietnam, and Buddhist)
The Winter Solstice Festival or The Extreme of Winter (Chinese and Japanese: ??; Korean: ??; Vietnamese: Ðông chí) (Pinyin: Dong zhì), (Romaji: Toji) is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the 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 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 Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (??, as pronounced in Cantonese; Mandarin Pinyin: Tang Yuán) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion.
[edit] Goru (Dogon of Mali)
Goru is the (December) winter solstice ceremony of the Pays Dogon of Mali. It is the last harvest ritual and celebrates the arrival of humanity from the sky god, Amma, via Nommo inside the Aduno Koro, or the "Ark of the World".[10]
[edit] 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 Norse who celebrated a solstitial new year (England celebrated the new year on March 25th). In 1600 with the Scottish application of the January 1st New year and the churches persistent abolition of the solstice celebrations, the holiday traditions moved to December 31. The festival is still referred to as the Yules by the Scots of the Shetland Islands who start the festival on December 18th and hold the last tradition, (a Troll chasing ritual) on January 18th. The most widespread Scottish custom is the practice of first-footing which starts immediately after midnight on New Years. This involves being the first person (usually tall and dark haired) to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbor 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.[11]
[edit] Inti Raymi (Inca, Peru)
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.[12][13]
[edit] Junkanoo, Jonkonnu, John Canoe (West Africa, Bahamas, Jamaica, 19th-century North Carolina)
Junkanoo, in the Bahamas, Junkunno or Jonkanoo, in Jamaica, is a fantastic masquerade, parade and street festival, believed to be of West African origin. 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 fifes, drums, and coconut graters 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. Both John Canoe and wassailing bear strong resemblance to the social inversion rituals that marked the ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia.
[edit] Karachun (Ancient Western Slavic)
Karachun, Korochun or Kracún was a Slavic holiday similar to Halloween as a day when the Black God and other evil spirits are most potent. It was celebrated by Slavs on the longest night of the year. On this night, Hors, symbolising old sun, becomes smaller as the days become shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, and dies on December 22nd, the December solstice. It is said to be defeated by the dark and evil powers of the Black God. In honour of the god, Hors, 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 December 23rd Hors is resurrected and becomes the new sun, Koleda. Modern scholars tend to associate this holiday with the ancestor worship. On this day, Western Slavs burned fires at cemeteries to keep their loved ones warm, they organized dinings in the honor of the dead so as they would not suffer from hunger. They also lit wooden logs at local crossroads.
[edit] Koleda, ??????, Sviatki, Dazh Boh (Ancient Eastern Slavic and Sarmatian)
 |
This article or section is
in need of attention from an expert on the subject.
WikiProject History or the
History Portal may be able to help recruit one. |
In ancient Slavonic cultures, the festival of Kaleda 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 Revolution. Each family made a fire in their hearth and invited their personal household Gods to join in the festivities. Children disguise themselves on evenings and nights and as Koledari, visited houses and sang wishes of good luck, like Shchedryk, to hosts. As a reward, they were given little gifts, a tradition called Kolyadovanie, much like the old wassailing or mummers Tradition.[14][15]
[edit] Lenæa, Brumalia (Ancient and Hellenistic Greece, Roman Kingdom)
In the Aegean civilizations, the exclusively female midwinter ritual, Lenaea or Lenaia, was the Festival of the Wild Women. In the forest, a man or bull representing the harvest god, Dionysus, was torn to pieces and eaten by Maenads. Later in the ritual, a baby, representing Dionysus reborn, was presented. The Ageans dedicated their first month of the Delian calendar, Lenaion, to the festival's name. By 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 into a room overnight and the next day it would have turned into wine. The miracle was said to have been performed by Dionysus and the Lenaians. By the 5th century BC the ritual had become a Gamelion festival for theatrical competitions, often held in Athens in the Lenaion theater. The festival influenced Brumalia which was an ancient Roman solstice festival honoring Bacchus, generally held for a month and ending December 25. The festival included drinking and merriment. The name is derived from the Greek word bruma, meaning "shortest day", though the festivities almost always occurred at night.[16][17][18]
[edit] Lucia, Feast of St. Lucy (Ancient Swedish, Scandinavian Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox)
Lucia or Lussi Night happened on December 13, what was supposed to be the longest night of the year. The feast was later appropriated by the Catholic Church in the 16th century as St. Lucy's Day. It was believed in the folklore of Sweden that if people, particularly children, did not carry out their chores, the female demon, the Lussi or Lucia die dunkle would come to punish them.[19]
[edit] Makara Sankranti (India and Nepal, Hindu)
Makara Sankranti, celebrated at the beginning of Uttarayanais, 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. In Assam it is called Magh Bihu (the First day of Magh), in Punjab, Lohri and in Maharshtra it is called Tilgul, but the place where it is celebrated with much pomp is Andhra Pradesh, where the festival is celebrated for 3 days and is more of a cultural festival unlike an auspicious day as in other parts of india. In some parts of India, the festival is celebrated by taking dips in the Ganga or any river and offering water to the Sun god. The dip is said to purify the self and bestow punya. In many countries, families fly kites from their roofs all day and into the night. In Assam on Bihu Eve or Uruka families build bhelaghar, house like structures, and separate large bhelaghar are built by the community as a whole. Twine of sorts are tied around fruit trees. Out of tradition, fuel is stolen for the final ceremony, when all the bhelaghar are burned. Their remains are then placed at the fruit trees. Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest. Since the festival is celebrated in the mid winter, the food prepared for this festival are such that they keep the body warm and give high energy. Laddu of til made with Jaggery (Gur)is specialty of the festival.[20]
[edit] Meán Geimhridh, Celtic Midwinter (Celtic, Ancient Welsh, Neodruidic)
Meán Geimhridh (Irish tr: Midwinter) or Grianstad an Gheimhridh (Ir tr: Winter solstice) is a name sometimes used for hypothetical Midwinter rituals or celebrations of the Proto-Celtic Neolithic tribes, Celts, and late Druids. In Ireland's calendars, the solstices and equinoxes 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.
[edit] 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 supposedly in remembrance of the festival that was celebrated by the Druids. 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.
[edit] Alban Arthan (Neodruidic)
- In England, during the 18th century, there was a revival of interest in Druids. Today, amongst 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.
[edit] Midvinterblót (Swedish folk religion)
In Sweden and many surrounding parts of Europe, polytheistic tribes celebrated a Midvinterblot or mid-winter-sacrifice, featuring both animal and human sacrifice. The blot was performed by goði, or priests, at certain cult sites, most of which have churches built upon them now. Midvinterblot paid tribute to the local gods, appealing to them to let go winter's grip. The folk tradition was finally abandoned by 1200, due to missionary persistence.
[edit] Modranicht, Modresnach (Anglo-Saxon, Germanic)
The Night of Mothers or Mothers' Night was an Anglo-Saxon and Germanic feast. It was believed that dreams on this night foretold events in the upcoming year. While it may originally have occurred the night before Samhain according to a lunar calendar, it has moved around quite a bit in the year. By 730, It was thought by Bede to be observed by the Anglicans on the winter solstice. After the reemergence of Christmas in Britain it was recognized by many as one of the 12 Days of Christmas.[21][22]
[edit] Perchta ritual (Germania, Alps)
Early Germans (c.500-1000) considered the Norse goddess, Hertha or Bertha to be the goddess of Light, Domesticity and the home. They baked yeast cakes shaped like shoes, which were called Hertha's slippers, and filled with gifts. "During the Winter Solstice houses were decked with fir and evergreens to welcome her coming. When the family and serfs were gathered to dine, a great altar of flat stones was erected and here a fire of fir boughs was laid. Hertha descended through the smoke, guiding those who were wise in saga lore to foretell the fortunes of those persons at the feast".[23] There are also darker versions of Perchta which terrorize children along with Krampus. Many cities had practices of dramatizing the gods as characters roaming the streets. These traditions have continued in the rural regions of the Alps, as well various similar traditions, such as Wren day, survived in the Celtic nations until recently.
[edit] Rozhanitsa Feast (12th century Eastern Slavic Russian)
In twelfth 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.[24]
[edit] Shabe Celle, ???? , Yalda (2nd millenium BC Persian, Iranian)
Derived from a pre-zoroastrian festival, Shabe Chelle 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 & it has been long celebratd in Iran by all ethnic/religious groups. According to Persian mythology, Mithra was born at the end of this night after the long expected defeat of darkness against Light. "Shabe Chelle" 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 & Pomegranates are traditional symbols of this celebration, all representing the Sun. It used to be customary to keep awake the Yalda night untill sunrise eating, drinking, listenning to stories & 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 Syric Christians fled from persecution into the Sassanid Empire of Persia, introducing the term Yalda, meaning birth, causing Shabe Yalda to became synonymous with Shabe Chelle. [25]
[edit] Sanghamitta Day (Buddhist)
Sanghamitta is in honor of the Buddhist nun who brought a branch of the Bodhi tree to SriLanka where it has flourished for over 2,000 years.
[edit] Saturnalia, Chronia (Ancient Greek, Roman Republic)
Originally Celebrated by the Ancient Greeks as Kronia the festival of Chronos, Saturnalia was the feast at which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of Saturn, which originally took place on 17 December, but expanded to a whole week, up to 23 December. A large and important public festival in Rome, it involved the conventional sacrifices, a couch set in front of the temple of Saturn and the untying of the ropes that bound the statue of Saturn during the rest of the year. Besides the public rites 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 (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 Cypriot folklore it was believed that children born during the festival were in danger of turning into Kallikantzaros which come out of the earth after the solstice to cause trouble for mortals. Some would leave colanders on their doorsteps to distract them until the sun returned.
[edit] Seva Zistanê (Kurdish)
The Night of Winter (Kurdish: Seva Zistanê) is an unofficial holiday celebrated by communities throughout the Kurdistan region in the Middle East. The night is considered one of the oldest holidays still observed by modern Kurds and was celebrated by ancient tribes in the region as a holy day. The holiday falls every year on the Winter Solstice. 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 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.
[edit] 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 applied to at least three distinct divinities during the later Roman Empire; El Gabal, Mithras, and Sol. A festival of the birth of the Unconquered Sun (or Dies Natalis Solis Invicti) was celebrated when the duration of daylight first begins to increase after the winter solstice, — the "rebirth" of the sun. The Sol Invictus festival ran from December 22 through December 25, which at that time was at the solstice. With the growing popularity of the Christian cults, Jesus of Nazareth came to adopt much of the recognition previously given to a sun god, there by, including Christ into the tradition. This was later condemned by the early Catholic Church for its pagan practices and for associating the Christ with the other sun gods.
[edit] Soyal (Zuni and Hopi of North America)
Soyalangwul is the winter solstice ceremony of the Zuni and the Hopitu Shinumu, "The Peaceful Ones", also known as the Hopi Indians. It is held on December 21st, 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.[26][27]
[edit] Te?ufat ?ebet (Jewish)
Tekufah Tevet is one of four Tekufot (Hebrew: ??????), solstices and equinoxes recognized by the Talmudical writers. Te?ufat Tevet, the winter solstice, the beginning of winter, or "'et ha-?oref" (stripping-time) was when Jephthah sacrificed his daughter . A long standing superstition is that on any of the Tekufot, water that is kept in vessels turned poisonous and must be thrown out. Some believed the poisoning could be prevented by placing iron in the water over the Tekufot.[28] This observations solemness is unlike its proximal holiday, Hanukkah, a celebration which became prominent as it was influenced by Christmas traditions.
[edit] Wayeb (Maya)
Wayeb' or Uayeb, referencing the unlucky god N, were actually five nameless days leading up to the end of the Haab, the solar Maya calendar. It was thought to be a dangerous time in which there were no divisions between the mortal and immortal worlds, and deitys were free to cause disaster if they willed it. To ward off the spirits, the Maya had a variety of customs they practiced during this period. For example, people avoided leaving their houses or grooming their hair. Calendar Round rituals would be held at the end of each 52 year round (coincidence of the three Maya calendars), 4 wayeb to 1 Imix 0 Pop, with all fires extinguished, old pots broken, and a new fire ceremony symbolizing a fresh start. The next Calendar Round will be on the winter solstice of 2012, beginning a new baktun. Haab' observations are still held by Maya communities in the highlands of Guatemala.[29]
[edit] Yule, Jul, Jól, Joul, Joulu, Jõulud, Géol, Geul (Viking Age, Northern Europe)
Originally the name Giuli signified a 60 day tide beginning at the lunar midwinter of the late Scandinavian Norse and Germanic tribes. The arrival of Juletid thus came to refer to the midwinter celebrations. By the late Viking Age, the Yule celebrations came to specify a great solstitial Midwinter festival that amalgamated the traditions of various midwinter celebrations across Europe, like Mitwinternacht, Modrasnach, Midvinterblot, and the Teutonic solstice celebration, Feast of the Dead. A documented example of this is in 960, when King Håkon of Norway signed into law that Jul was to be celebrated December 25, to align it with the Christian celebrations. For some Norse sects, Yule logs were lit to honor Thor, the god of thunder. Feasting would continue until the log burned out, three or as many as twelve days. The indigenous lore of the Icelandic Jól continued beyond the Middle Ages, but was condemned when the Reformation arrived. The celebration continues today throughout Northern Europe and elsewhere in name and traditions, for Christians as representative of the nativity of Jesus, and for others as a cultural winter celebration.[30]
[edit] Yule, Yulefest, Jul, Jól, Joulu (secular, Anglospherean, Northern European and Germanic cultures)
- Amongst Anglosphereans, Yule or Yuletide is also a celebrated secular alternative to "Christmas", commonly occurring on the winter solstice or December 24th and 25th, in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere it is often celebrated on the winter solstice or some time through early July. The earliest recorded Australian midwinter bonfire was lit in Moonta, the night leading into June 24, 1862, by Cornish immigrants carrying on the European Midsummer tradition. The midwinter bonfire holiday also began in Burra soon after. Currently, Yulefest is observed by various Australians, often starting on a weekend in late June. The contemporary Scandinavian Jul, Julfest, Jól or Joulu is primarily a cultural observance and does not distinguish between the Germanic feast, the Christian Christmas, the secular Yule, the Neopagan Yule, or the pre-Indo-European winter solstice celebration and is also occasionally used to denote other holidays in December, e.g., "jødisk jul" or "judisk jul" (tr. "Jewish Yule") for Hanukkah.[31]
[edit] Jul (Germanic Neopaganism)
- In Germanic Neopagan sects, Yule is celebrated with gatherings that often involve a meal and gift giving. Further attempts at reconstruction of surviving accounts of historical celebrations are often made, a hallmark being variations of the traditional. However it has been pointed out that this is not really reconstruction as these traditions never died out - they have merely removed the Christian elements from the celebration and replaced the event at the solstice.
- The Icelandic Ásatrú and the Asatru Folk Assembly in the US recognize Jól or Yule as lasting for 12 days, beginning on the date of the winter solstice.[32]
[edit] Yule (Wiccan)
- In Wicca, a form of the holiday is observed as one of the eight solar holidays, or Sabbat. In most Wiccan sects, this holiday is celebrated as the rebirth of the Great God, who is viewed as the newborn solstice sun. Although the name Yule has been appropriated from Germanic paganism, the celebration itself is of modern origin.
[edit] Zagmuk, Sacaea (Ancient Mesopotamia, Sumerian, Babylonian)
Adapting the Egyptian Osiris Celebrations, the Babylonians held the annual renewal or new year celebration, the Zagmuk Festival. It Lasted 12 days overlapping 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 masquerades clogged the streets. This has been a suggested precursor to the Festival of Kronos, Saturnalia and possibly Purim.[33][34]
[edit] Ziemassvetki (Latvian, Baltic, Romuva)
In ancient Latvia, Ziemassvetki, meaning winter festival, was celebrated on December 24 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 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 Ghousts, 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 24th, 25th and 26th of December and largely recognized as both a Christian and secular cultural observance. Lithuanians of the Romuva religion continue to celebrate a variant of the original polytheistic holiday.
[edit] See also
[edit] Winter observances |
[edit] Sources
- ^ ReligiousTolerance.org
- ^ An Ancient Holiday History Channel
- ^ Q&A on Bright Light Therapy Columbia University
- ^ Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital
- ^ University of Connecticut
- ^ School of the Seasons
- ^ Madsen, Loren. Despite Everything Davka.org
- ^ Celtic Yule Rituals ADF Druid Fellowship
- ^ The Iranian, History
- ^ New York Metropolitan Museum
- ^ UK History
- ^ Mostrey, Dimitri InfoPeru.com
- ^ Minnesota University
- ^ Winter solstice Adventure Calendar
- ^ Koleda
- ^ 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. 246
- ^ Correspondences 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.9
- ^ The Miracle of the Wine at Dionysos' Advent; On the Lenaea Festival, by J. Vürtheim The Classical Quarterly, 1920. Vol. 14, No. 2, p.94
- ^ Griffith University, The Centre for Public Culture and Ideas
- ^ Margaret Read MacDonald (1992). The Folklore of World Holidays, Chapter: circa December 21.
- ^ Jones, Prudence & Pennick, Nigel. A History of Pagan Europe. Routledge; NY,NY (1997) pp.122-125.
- ^ Internet Sacred Texts Archive
- ^ Hottes, Alfred Carl, 1001 Christmas Facts and Fancies, NY: De La Mare, 1937.
- ^ Kelly, Mary B. Goddesses and Their Offspring, NY: Binghamton (1990)
- ^ The Iranian, History
- ^ Bahti, Tom. "Southwestern Indian Ceremonials". KC Publications (1970) p36-40.]
- ^ HOPI: The Real Thing
- ^ Abudarham, Sha'ar ha-Te?ufot, p. 122a, Venice, 1566
- ^ Foster, Lynn V. Handbook to Life in the Ancient Mayan World. New York: Facts on File. (2002).
- ^ Jones, Prudence & Pennick, Nigel. A History of Pagan Europe. Routledge; NY,NY (1997) pp.122-125.
- ^ Samuels, Brian. Aspects of Australian Folklife
- ^ Asatru Folk Assembly
- ^ Ruano, Teresa Sacaea-Saturnalia. Candlegrove.com
- ^ Morrison, Dorothy. Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth. Llewellyn Publications (2000)
Categories: History articles needing expert attention | Articles needing expert attention | Winter festivals | Winter holidays | Secular holidays | December observances | June observances | Astronomical events
