Good Morning and Happy Solstice Everyone!
May blessings fall like Moonbeams on you and yours
at this turning of the Year
Up above you will see the Moon Phase for the current time.
So, go get your coffee, tea, smokes or whatever else you enjoy in the morning
because this is going to be a long page with a lot to read. Join me on the Journey.
By the way, if you ever want music to stop on a page, just go up top to your browser
And click on the X and that will stop it.
The song I chose for this page is up beat and happy.
Its a time to Celebrate and be merry. The Sun is returning,
and Spring is on its way!
Today is the Birth of the Sun!
Winter Solstice arrives this year when the sun enters Capricorn on Wednesday, 21 December 2005. In much of Europe this will take place Wednesday evening at 1835 GMT; on the East Coast and in parts of the Midwest of the United States, it'll be 1:35pm EST; in the western United States, it'll be 10:35am PST.
Solstice means...
standing-still-sun
It is also known as Yule "Yul"
Which means, Wheel.
The Winter Solstice is one part of
The Wheel of the Year
There are 8 parts on the Wheel, unlike how most separate the Seasons
Most people know it to have 4. Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.
The Wheel of the Year celebrates them all. Each are important to those
That truly follow the specific seasons, such as Hunters, Farmers etc.
And in truth, this is actually considered to be Mid-Winter
Not the start of Winter as most call this day,
"The Beginning of Winter"
Such precision we have about it now! The perfect Clock~
Winter solstice is when...
...because of the earth's tilt, your hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun,
and therefore:
The daylight is the shortest.
The sun has its lowest arc in the sky.
The Winter Solstice marks a crucial part of the natural cycle. In a real sense, the sun begins anew its journey toward longer days, times of new growth and renewal of the world once again. In a spiritual sense, it is a reminder that in order for a new path to begin, the old one must end and that spring will come again.
The Sun's representation as the male divinity, or celestial ruler, predates Christianity. As with other rituals and celebrations, the Church felt that by assimilating this holiday into the Christian beliefs, it would help convert those who still followed the Olde Way.
Relationship to Christmas
The selection of December 25th as a Christian holiday was first recorded in scholarly texts dating to 325 A.D., although the actual practice was first decreed in 274 A.D. by the Emperor Aurelian. Since the non-Christians viewed this time as the rebirth of the sun, it made sense for the Church to also mark this period as the celebration of the nativity of Christ. Curiously, the selection of the day appears arbitrary although mankind had long known how to calculate the solstices. One can only guess that, rather than shift the celebration each year, a regularly scheduled event was preferable—the old Roman desire for order never quite left the new faith.
Most of the customs, lore, symbols, and rituals associated with "Christmas" actually are linked to Winter Solstice celebrations of ancient Pagan cultures. While Christian mythology is interwoven with contemporary observances of this holiday time, its Pagan nature is still strong and apparent. Pagans today can readily re-Paganize Christmastime and the secular New Year by giving a Pagan spiritual focus to existing holiday customs and by creating new traditions that draw on ancient ways.
Winter Solstice has been celebrated in cultures the world over for thousands of years. This start of the solar year is a celebration of Light and the rebirth of the Sun. In old Europe, it was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul, meaning wheel.
Today, many people in Western-based cultures refer to this holiday as "Christmas." Yet a look into its origins of Christmas reveals its Pagan roots. Emperor Aurelian established December 25 as the birthday of the "Invincible Sun" in the third century as part of the Roman Winter Solstice celebrations. Shortly thereafter, in 273, the Christian church selected this day to represent the birthday of Jesus, and by 336, this Roman solar feast day was Christianized. January 6, celebrated as Epiphany in Christendom and linked with the visit of the Magi, was originally an Egyptian date for the Winter Solstice.
Santa Claus as a Pagan Godform. Today's Santa is a folk figure with multicultural roots. He embodies characteristics of Saturn (Roman agricultural god), Cronos (Greek god, also known as Father Time), the Holly King (Celtic god of the dying year), Father Ice/Grandfather Frost (Russian winter god), Thor (Norse sky god who rides the sky in a chariot drawn by goats), Odin/Wotan (Scandinavian/Teutonic All-Father who rides the sky on an eight-legged horse), Frey (Norse fertility god), and the Tomte (a Norse Land Spirit known for giving gifts to children at this time of year). Santa's reindeer can be viewed as forms of Herne, the Celtic Horned God. Decorate your home with Santa images that reflect His Pagan heritage.
In ancient times people lived their lives according to the world around them. Daylight, weather, hunting conditions and the seasons dictated what they ate, where they lived, and if they survived. December was the turning point of the natural year, when all one could do is live off what they harvested during fall and hope for an early spring. At this time, daylight was minimum and then sun, they thought, was weak. They needed the sun to gather strength so it could return in the spring. An elaborate party was thrown in the sun's honor each winter, in hope of showing the people's appreciation and dependence.
For over 5000 years humans have participated in holiday traditions deeply rooted in Pagan customs. For example, Celtic Druids hung mistletoe for luck, feasted with family, and lit giant community bonfires. Norsemen - who celebrated the original Yule - decorated evergreens with apples and were the first to burn the Yule Log, a tradition later adapted by the Greeks. The Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians held 12-day festivals, much like today’s 12 Days of Christmas, and from December 17-23, the Roman Saturnalia festival included traditions much like those of today: exchanging of gifts, candles lighting homes (much like Christmas lights of today), decorated trees and family feasts. Also during Saturnalia, courts and businesses closed, slaves dined with masters and quarrels were suspended.
Throughout the years many Pagan traditions have been adapted to fit the needs of others, particularly the Christians who use December 25th as the birthdate of their savior, Jesus. When he in fact was born between Spring-August. Is it a coincidence that many Christmas customs mimics the celebration of Saturnalia? Some say that in 350 AD Pope Julius I declared December 25th as Jesus’ birthday with the intention of converting Pagans to Christianity, knowing they would not give up their jovial winter celebration without having something to fill its void. It must have worked because soon people who previously celebrated Winter Solstice were converting to Christianity and partaking in Christmas festivities.
...the Queen of Heaven is a great example: the goddess was referred to by many names including Semiramis, Isis, Mama, Hera, Ishtar, (Easter), and others. The Queen of Heaven had such a strong cult following at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. that the Roman Catholic Church re-invented Mary in her image- completely embracing polytheism & pagan goddess worship. Even though they persecuted Pagans, Roman Catholicism combined Christianity with Paganism and many Protestant Churches retain her polythestic doctrines to this day. The Protestant Reformation was more about where the money went than doctrine. " By the mid 20th Century Western Paganism was widely thought to have faded into history.
In spite of the highly technological environment of the 21st century revivals of ancient pagan goddess worship, animism, and nature worship in new forms are appearing all over the world.
Like all faiths, and peoples, Pagans have also at times been systematically and brutally persecuted...
Today such ancient customs have been adopted by cultures all over the world - especially in the United States. Unfortunately, the origins of such customs are usually ignored, disbelieved or forgotten. Rarely will you find a child’s book of winter holidays that includes the Winter Solstice, identifying it as a legitimate celebration centuries old and of practice today. If Winter Solstice is mentioned, it’s usually in passing, as though the traditions and culture has long since died out.
This holiday is enjoyed by as many as 10 million people worldwide, many of whom live in the United States (where Paganism is now the fastest growing religion.) I have yet to see a ‘Winter Solstice’ greeting card at my local card shop, a mainstream magazine featuring how-to’s for a great Winter Solstice, or my favorite television personality wishing his audience a Happy Solstice when wishing the world a happy Christmas, Kwanza or Hanukkah. And when I greet people with a “Happy Solstice” on the street, in reply to their “Merry Christmas” very few people know what the heck I’m talking about.
Whether we celebrate it on its own or in combination with other winter holidays, the Winter Solstice is a naturally occurring event that affects everyone on the planet. So why isn’t it common knowledge? Why don’t we accept its role in today’s traditions? Why don’t we all
celebrate it?
If you want to know of some ways to Celebrate the Winter Solstice here are some
very old traditions that have been around for over 5000 years.
Burning the Yule Log
The term Yule stems from the Anglo-Saxon "yula" or "wheel" of the year. In ancient pagan ritual, the Yule Log was lit on the eve of Winter Solstice and burned for twelve hours. Later, the Log was replaced by the Yule Tree, but instead of being burned, it was adorned with burning candles. Some even kept a piece of the log to start next years log.
Its for good luck in keeping faith that the Sun will return once again.
By lighting a fire, the ancients were acknowledging the return of the sun, warmth and light, which was marked by the lengthening of days and the promise of the coming spring. In pagan belief, for good luck, the Log should be lit on the first try and must burn for twelve hours.
After that, it is kept in the house all year to protect the home and its inhabitants from illness and any adverse condition. The yule log is the counterpart of the midsummer bondfires, which are held outdoors on Summer Solstice to celebrate the shortest night of the year. It is also customary to place mistletoe around the fire, which is the plant that grew on the oak tree, sacred to the Druids, the priests of the old Celts. Among other uses, mistletoe is thought to help women conceive. The Christmas tree also dates from old European or pagan rituals. It was the time to celebrate the renewal of the earth, and greens were used as the symbol. Branches of pine, cedar, and juniper commonly used brings wonderful fragrance into the home. Red candles are used to symbolize the fire and heat of the returning sun as the days begin to lengthen. Bonfires were also lit on Winter Solstice too.
Mistletoe
The "kissing bush" actually was one of a group of evergreens such as holly, rosemary, pine and yew. Since these and other coniferous plants flourished during the winter months, they became symbols that life continued its cycle even in the coldest and shortest of days.
The custom of kissing under the mistletoe actually seems to have its origins in the late 18th century; interestingly, the actual bough could have been holly or some other evergreen as well as mistletoe. Ultimately, however, it was the bright berries and rich green color that could withstand the harshness of winter that made mistletoe the favorite.
Mistletoe was often hung over the entrances to homes of the pagans in Scandinavian countries to keep out evil spirits. An ld Scandinavian myth tells of the seemingly invulnerable god, Balder, who was struck down by a dart made fromn mistletoe. The tears of this mother, Frigga, became the white berries of the mistletoe, and it was decreed that the plant must never again be used as a weapon.
Frigga, who was the goddess of love, henceforth gave a kiss to anyone who passed under the mistletoe. It may be that our present custom of kissing under the mistletoe derives from this old legend.
Legend holds that the Druids, who were members of a pagan religious order in ancient Gaul, Briton and Ireland, held the mistletoe in such reverence that if enemies met under it in the forest, a truce was declared for the day. It was their belief that only happiness would enter a home when mistletoe hung overt the door.
When the Yule season approached, the mistletoe was cut down from the sacred oaks by the Prince of the Druids who used a golden sickle. The mistletoe was distributed to the people who believed it possessed powers of the protection against sickness and evil. Later among Christians it came to symbolize the healing powers of Christ.
Candles
As with most belief systems, the use of candles by the ancients symbolized light, focused the spirit and marked the belief that those beings of light, warmth and new life, God and Goddess, would again turn the Great Wheel and the spring would come again. They were also used to light the Yule Tree.
The Feast
Food has been associated with winter celebrations—Saturnalia of the Romans, the Solstice, or Christmas dinner—since time out of mind. In those distant times, the winter would have meant lean months when subsistence meant surviving on the last of the crops and meat harvested during the fall. To partake from this larder in honor of the run of the sun was to reaffirm the faith in God and Goddess to return light and warmth to the world.
More Traditional Information
In ancient times, it was believed that the Sun needed our help to return, so the people would light bonfires both to strenghthen the Sun through sympathetic magic and also to show the Sun the way back to the earth. Lighted candles in windows and lights on houses and trees (Christmas tree lights) are the leftover symbols of these bonfires, and are meant to symbolize and aid the return of the Sun....
...Tinsel and icicles are fertility magic also, representing the rains which will come to fertilize the earth in the spring. Bells were used to purify the air, and to summon the friendly spirits for protection. The star at the top of the tree is our own pentagram, representing the four elements of air, earth, fire and water, overseen by Spirit.
Holly and Ivy were seen as the male and fenale principles (respectively) and were believed to bring good luck and fertility to men and women. Holly, berries, pine cones, and acorns were all used to signify the God aspect at this season, while the wreath symbolized the Goddess aspect. As a complete circle, the wreath symbolized the circle of life, the wheel of the year, and the sacred cycles of the Goddess, and was usually decorated with the holly, berries, ribbons, etc. of the God, and so combined both aspects in one decoration.
Native American Winter Solstice Rites
A central aspect of the winter solstice rites observed by many Native American tribes includes the making and planting of prayer sticks. Prayer sticks are made by everyone in a family for four days before the solstice. On the day named as the solstice, the prayer sticks are plantedóat least one by each personóin small holes dug by the head of the household. Each prayer stick is named for an ancestor or deity.
Traditional prayer sticks are usually:
Made out of cedar and are forked;
Are equivalent to the measurement from the maker's elbow to the tips of their fingers; and
Are taken from a tree that the maker feels connected to.
Tobacco is offered to the largest tree of the same species in the area and permission is asked to take a part of its relative.
The bark can be stripped.
The bark can be carved on the stick.
One feather should be added to the prayer stick; traditionally this is a wild turkey feather.
A bit of tobacco is placed in a red cloth and tied onto one of the forks.
Fur or bone from an animal that the maker wishes to honor is tied onto the stick.
Metal or stones should not be tied to the stick.
It is also customary to say prayers silently as one makes the prayer stick.
THE FOREST
The snowfall fell through the forest
As voices rang out
And instruments of every string that's strung
Throughout the starry night.
Starlight and snowflake mingled there
And campfire on the ground
And round about the great tree trunk
We danced just like the dancing flame
As the wind swayed in the forest.
Above, the longest and first time ever
Party, all night long!
And racing through the frozen leaves
A wild and happy throng.
O What a time!
After we sang songs and played games and threw darts
We ran up to our rooms, climbing up
The wooden stairways to the top
Candles guiding our way
At the late hour.
We went to sleep
Beneath quilts of goose down soft and fluffy
Like cloud and sky above us
In the rooms smelling of cedar and fir
The music ringing in our ears
With the baskets swinging overhead
And the candles blurred and the room and the bed swayed.
On the longest night of the year
In dusky calming cedar smell
And billows of goosedown blankets
To keep out the icy cold
High above the ground and near the stars
Hibernating like bears in the wintry way.
Awaiting the sun's turn
The ever best and longest rest
Outside the notes of one last song
At the wooden palace in the trees
In the high tree tops
As the wind swayed
As we stayed throughout the night
In the forest.
When the Grandmothers speak, the Earth will be healed
When the Grandmothers pray, Wisdom will be revealed
When the Grandmothers sing, the Earth will be made whole
Solstice Night-
Renewal,
Rebirth,
Rejuvenation.
Solstice Night-
The circle closes,
begins again
as it has since time began,
as it will until time ends.
My prayer for you is one of peace
and hope for love of family and friends.
Think on this, the longest night,
and cast your wishes to the stars
where they will shine and show the way
to the coming of the light of day.
Bless you, my friends, wherever you are.
