Winter solstice rituals have a shocking cosmic historical past that dates again to historic instances.
The winter solstice and Capricorn season formally start on December 21. This important date has many connections to astrology and spirituality. Solstice durations have their roots in nature-based spirituality that honored the planets. They’re used to drive away evil spirits, carry out fertility rituals, or have interaction in hedonistic festivals.
1. The Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice marks the yr’s shortest day.
The solstice is when the Solar seems to cease shifting ahead by the sky for 3 days. In case you dwell within the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice happens on December 21. The summer season solstice takes place on June 21 throughout this “standing nonetheless” interval.
Why do we have now solstices within the first place? The opposing northern and southern areas of the planet obtain kind of daylight because the Earth revolves across the Solar, which, amongst different advantages and disadvantages, offers us our 4 distinct seasons.
The Solar has lowered to its lowest level within the sky from our Northern Hemisphere vantage level above the equator. After the winter solstice, the Solar will seem to show, shifting upwards every day to the Tropic of Most cancers. The Northern Hemisphere enters its first day of winter on the December Solstice.
2. Solstice rituals have roots in paganism, together with Saturnalia, Yuletide, and photo voltaic festivals.
Saturnalia, a Roman competition, was the principle vacation on the late December calendar lengthy earlier than Christmas as we all know it right now.
Saturnalia, or Saturnalia, was identified for its consuming, revelry, and open intercourse. This carnal carnival, which bears the title of the god Saturn, basically celebrates the winter solstice’s darkish days because the Solar strikes by Capricorn, the signal that Saturn guidelines.
December 25 was chosen because the triumphant day the Solar “reappeared,” resuming its obvious motion on the ecliptic.
Mithras was the god of sunshine and messenger of the Mithraic Mysteries, and Sol was figuratively the divine solar. Presents have been exchanged in honor of Mithras and Sol, a customized that endured in our Christmas Day celebrations. The Romans would ultimately worship Sol within the type of an official Roman faith.
The “Son of God’s” birthday was modified from the Solar God’s delivery to that of Jesus after Constantine the Nice made Christianity the state faith of the Roman Empire in AD 325.
It’s a condensed model of “Christ’s mass,” often known as Cristes Maesse. The time period Cristes-messe was used after this in 1131, based on The Catholic Encyclopedia.
Christmas is a syncretic (blended) vacation with many ritual parts drawn from Asian and European pagan traditions. Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol helped popularize the thought of Christmas in America.
It’s not fairly the pure, family-oriented vacation that has come to symbolize the Christmas season in our fashionable world. Nonetheless, these are its historic origins.
3. The winter solstice was additionally a time of remembrance and communion with the lifeless in some cultures.
Pagan and nature-based traditions use it as a time to commune with the lifeless and push back evil from the earlier yr earlier than the Solar’s rebirth.
Ebenezer Scrooge from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Previous through the winter solstice. The astrological lore additionally helps the hyperlink between the solstice durations and specters. (The summer season solstice and Most cancers stand for “the gate of arrival” for souls).
The oak Yuletide log is a descendant of the large bonfires that European pagans lit across the time of the winter solstice. The white berries on mistletoe have been thought to have magical powers based on the Druids. Different solstice ceremonies come from Scandinavian customs that worth fertility.
In historic instances, the Yuletide log was seen as a form of phallic torch, lit to encourage virility whereas bringing power, therapeutic, and knowledge to a group. Could the log burn/Could the wheel flip/Could evil spurn /Could the Solar return is the chorus of an antiquated Yulelog music.
4. The winter solstice marks the start of the Capricorn season in astrology.
In Western astrology, the Capricorn season begins on the winter solstice. The Solar seems to cross the Tropic of Caprics straight at the moment.
Because the Solar enters Capricorn, the decision revolution begins in earnest. Regardless of the vacations, now’s the very best time of yr to set objectives for the approaching yr. To design your desires in essentially the most fulfilling method, turn into conscious of your emotions and repressed wishes.
5. Is the winter season formally underway on the winter solstice?
Relies upon. The Previous Farmer’s Almanac presents these two definitions of winter:
- Astronomical winter, The Western (tropical) astrology calendar charts the Solar’s journey by the Zodiac, our chart of the sky as seen from Earth.
- Meteorological winter, which within the Northern Hemisphere runs from December 1 to both February 28 or February 29. Local weather patterns and temperature cycles function the inspiration for meteorological seasons.
6. You’ll be able to rejoice the winter solstice by yourself phrases. Strive one with a global and astrological twist.
The religious symbolism of sunshine is emphasised through the December holidays everywhere in the world. “Materialism has largely displaced the religious significance of the vacations in fashionable society,” says Dr. Gabrielle Francis.
The Newgrange monument is a 5,000-year-old burial mound with an extended chamber aligned with the Solar’s first rays on the winter solstice. It’s only accessible to a choose few folks in Eire because of a lottery and is positioned in County Donegal. The writer suggests utilizing intention to design rituals which can be particular to us by utilizing intention.
Lighting a bonfire, burning a Yuletide log, or baking a standard dish can add a contact of astrology zodiac signal to your winter solstice celebrations. A scorching beverage like wassail dates again to historic fertility rites and is a forerunner to Christmas caroling.
7. Pine cones shouldn’t be forgotten!
Since Capricorn is an earth signal and the winter solstice has pure roots, you may additionally honor the Earth itself. Gown warmly for a stroll within the woods, then make a tablescape out of pure parts.
Pine cones are symbolic of the winter solstice. Some consider they symbolize the pineal gland and the third eye, the doorway to the religious worlds.
Give your wreaths and tree a festive makeover for the winter solstice and Christmas by including pretty pine cones.
Greetings on the solstice!
