Winter Solstice: A Time of Renewal Winter Solstice: A Time of Renewal Winter Solstice: A Time of Renewal
Since time began, celebrations of the return of the sun have long played a huge part in the lives of our ancestors. The winter solstice, as the sun begins its long journey, signifies the promise that life on earth is continuous.
In County Meath, Ireland, there stands the largest circular earth chamber in Europe, the Brú na Bóinne complex otherwise known as Newgrange, an ancient Neolithic monument believed to be over 5,000 years old. An enormous stone pillar, with spirals carved all over it, lies at the entrance, its temple only accessible through a narrow passageway that leads down into the earth. Half stooping, you can journey into this pitch black chamber where at every winter solstice the first rays of the newly-risen sun, penetrate down a special passageway built above the entrance, impregnating the earth’s womb with light. Here the old Sun God, Dagda, mates with the Goddess of the Land, Boand, to conceive Angus, the new sun (son) that is born of their union. Imagine the ancient Shamans and Druid’s sitting in this blackness, chanting, drumming, eagerly awaiting with bated breath to witness the miracle of this new birth.
From Italy to Scandinavia, in pre Christian times, all of Europe celebrated this time of year with feasts and dancing, light and fire, the turning between the year’s darkness and its new light, the cycle of death and life which marked both a beginning and a completion. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia an often rowdy but joyful feast and later in the 2nd century CE, on 25th December they also celebrated a custom which stemmed from Mithraism, the ‘Birthday of the Unconquered Sun’. The Norse celebrated ‘Yule’ meaning ‘wheel’ and the people of the British Isles and Ireland celebrated this festival for nearly a fortnight, which is where the term ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ originates from.
By the 4th Century CE, the 25th December was declared by the Roman Catholic church to be the official birth date of Jesus Christ and that celebrations should henceforth be known as the Feast of Christ (Christ’s Mass or Christmas). Christ’s actual birth date remains open to debate, however this ancient midwinter feast was chosen as folk were used to celebrating the birth of a Sun God at this time of year. The Catholic Priests certainly had their roles cut out for them reminding believers that they should be worshipping the birth of Christ and no longer the Sun and even though this celebration now had a new name, the custom of banishing the dark and welcoming back the light, carried on as they had done for thousands of years.
Up until more recent times, for many poor folk winter meant there was little or no work, so this became a time of dressing up as the spirits of Gods gone by, wearing costumes and masks and acting out traditional plays in the halls of the rich, who in turn would reward them with food and drink. Our custom of carol singing stems from this ancient tradition.
Houses of rich and poor alike were adorned with evergreens, especially Holly whose bright red berries symbolized life and warmth. Candles were lit to bring light into the darkness and in Ireland for those who could afford them, a candle that would last a whole week, called a coinneal mór na Nollaig would be placed burning in the front window to welcome weary travellers
Households gathered around huge, blazing hearth fires and groups of folk would venture into the forests to find and bring home a log or stump of wood big enough to provide heat and light for a whole twelve days. In Scotland these were called Yule Logs, in Ireland they were called bloc na Nollaig or Christmas block and in Wales, Y Bloccyn Gwylian, the festival block. These logs were decorated with greenery and drenched in ale or cider before they were kindled by a piece of last year’s wood and set alight to symbolise the continuity of light and life. Families would sit around the blazing fire eating, drinking, storytelling and singing, enjoying the warmth of the welcoming blaze that signified the sun’s light re-entering the human domain.
So, as the longest night is now upon us and we eagerly welcome the start of lengthening daylight, let us remember that this is also a time for growth, rebirth and renewal. Just as a snake sheds it skin, we too should let go of anything that no longer serves us and in doing so we make room for the seeds of new adventures to grow and flourish. So, release all that is holding you back and embrace the space of pure potential.
Solstice and season’s blessings to one and all.
Ann x
Source: Alban Arthan, The Winter Solstice of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.
Image Credits: Adobe licenced photos
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