What & When is Winter Solstice?

Winter Solstice---is the shortest day of the year. This year solstice is on Dec. 21, 2016 at 2:44 am. This day has the fewest hours of daylight during the year and is seen as the beginning of winter. The date of Solstice varies with the calendar cycle from year to year. It can happen anywhere from December 20th through December 23rd. This is due to the fact that the Earth does not move at a constant speed in its elliptical orbit. Therefore the seasons are not of equal length. The consolation in the Northern Hemisphere is that spring and summer last longer than autumn and winter (when the December solstice occurs).

The term solstice comes from the Latin word solstium, meaning "the Sun stands still". This is because on this day, the Sun reaches its southernmost position as seen from the Earth. The Sun seems to stand still at the Tropic of Capricorn and reverse its direction. It's also common to call it the day the Sun turns around.

In the Northern Hemisphere, astronomers and scientists use the December Solstice as the start of the winter season, which ends on the March Equinox. For meteorologists, on the other hand, winter began three weeks ago on December 1.

During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth is actually closest to the Sun. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, the increase rate of of daylight ours depends on your location's latitude - In more northern latitudes you will see a rapid increase in daylight hours compared to if you're in the more southern latitudes.

Holidays and Traditions around the December Solstice

Although winter is the season of dormancy,darkness and cold, the December Solstice marks the "turning of the Sun" and the days get longer. Celebrations of the lighter days to come and nature's continuing cycle have been common throughout cultures and history withe feasts, festivals and holidays around the December Solstice.

Christmas Celebrations

In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ no Christmas Day, which falls on December 25. However, it's believed that this date was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti. Some believe that celebrating the birth of the "True Light of the world" was set in synchronization with the December solstice because from that point onwards, the days began to have more daylight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Christmas is also referred to as Yule, which is derived from the Norse word jol, referring to the pre-Christian winter solstice festival.

Yule is also known as Alban Arthan and was one of the "Lesser Sabbats" of the Wiccan year in a time when ancient believers celebrated the rebirth of the Sun God and days with more light. This took place annually around the time of the December solstice and lasted for 12 days. The Lesser Sabbats fall on the solstices and equinoxes.

Feast of Juul

The Feast of Juul was a pre-Christian festival observed in Scandinavia at the time of the December solstice. Fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning sun. A Yule or Juul log was brought in and burned on hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god Thor.

Saturnalia in Ancient Rome

Saturnalia banquets were held from as far back as around 217 BCE. The festival was held to honor Saturn, the father of the gods and was celebrated by the suspension of discipline and reversal of the usual order. Grudges and quarrels were forgotten while businesses, courts and schools were closed. Wars were interrupted or postponed and slaves were served by their masters. Masquerades often occurred during this time.

It was traditional to offer gifts on imitation fruit (a symbol of fertility), dolls (symbolic of the custom of human sacrifice), and candles (reminiscent of the bonfires traditionally associated with pagan solstice celebrations). A mock king was chosen, usually from a group of slaves or criminals, and although he was permitted to behave in an unrestrained manner for seven days of the festival, he was usually killed at the end. The Saturnalia eventually degenerated into a week long spree of debauchery and crime --- giving rise to the modern use of the term saturnalia, meaning a period of unrestrained licenses and revelry.

Modern Day Celebrations

In Poland the ancient December solstice observance prior to Christianity involved people showing forgiveness and sharing food. It was a tradition that can still be seen in what is known as Gody. December solstice. It involves ritual baths as part of a purification process, as well as singing and chanting, a torchlight procession, dancing, bonfires and festival eating.

Santo Tomas in Guatemala

Many Christians celebrate St. Thomas Day in honor of St. Thomas the Apostle on December 21. In Guatemala on this day, Mayan Indians honor the sun god they worshipped long before they became Christians with a dangerous ritual known as the polo voladore, or "flying pole dance".

The ancient Incas celebrated a special festival to honor the sun god at the time of the December solstice.

Be sure to join us on Sunday Dec. 18th here at Astara (10700 Jersey Blvd Ste.500, Rancho Cucamonga, CA) at 1pm to do ceremony with Diana Briscoe for the Winter Solstice. You can also replay it on our youtube channel--astara1951 after Monday afternoon.