The winter solstice is a tradition that throws light upon the pagan in us all
THE winter solstice on December 21 is the day of least daylight in the calendar year. For some astronomers, it marks the end of autumn and the beginning of winter.
In meteorology, winter in the northern hemisphere spans the three months of December, January and February. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is that daylight gradually becomes longer until the summer solstice on June 21.
Although winter is the dormant season of darkness and cold, the winter solstice marks the ‘turning of the sun’ and the days slowly get longer. Celebrations of returning light are common in history, with festivals and holidays around the time of the winter solstice.
Pagan societies held a 12-day festival at winter solstice to celebrate the rebirth of the sun god. The Feast of Juul was another pre-Christian festival in Scandinavia at winter solstice. Fires were lit to symbolise the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning sun.
A Yule (Juul) log was burned on the hearth to honour the Scandinavian godThor.
Nowadays, Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas Day, when we decorate our homes and localities with lights and stars to welcome the birth of the ‘true light of the world’.
Similar to the old 12-day pagan festivals celebrating the rebirth of the sun god at winter solstice, Christians celebrate the ‘12 days of Christmas’.
The rebirth of light, whether spiritual or temporal, will brighten the way for people of all religions and none during this festive season.
The light will shine brighter if those of us with sufficient resources share a little with the needy this Christmas. Billy Ryle
Tralee, Co Kerry