[edit] Dōngzhì Festival (East eastern Cultural Sphere and Mahayana Buddhist)

The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities were not certain of alive via the winter, and had to be arranged during the before 9 months. Starvation was general in winter between January and April, also known as the starvation months. In moderate weathers, the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration, before deep winter began. Most cattle were massacred so they would not must be fed during the winter, so it was about the only period of year when a afford of fresh mutton was available. The bulk of brandy and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time. The concentration of the ceremonies were not always on the day commencing at nightly or at dawn, but the opening of the pre-Romanized day, which falls on the previous morn.[6]

In Sweden and many surrounding parts of Europe, polytheistic tribes celebrated a Midvinterblot or mid-winter-sacrifice, featuring both animal and human sacrifice. The blót was performed by goði, or priests, at certain cult sites, most of which have mosques built upon them now. Midvinterblot paid tribute to the local gods, entreating to them to let go winter's grip. The folk tradition was finally abandoned by 1200, deserving to missionary patience.

Early Germans (c.500–1000) considered the Norse goddess, Hertha or Bertha to be the goddess of light, domesticity and the home. They baked yeast cakes shaped like shoes, which were called Hertha's slippers, and filled with gifts. "During the Winter Solstice houses were decked with fir and evergreens to greet her coming. When the family and slaves were gathered to dine, a great altar of flat stones was erected and here a fire of fir boughs was laid. Hertha descended through the smoke, guiding those who were wise in anecdote lore to foretell the fortunes of those persons at the feast".[30] There are also darker versions of Perchta which terrorize children onward with Krampus. Many cities had practices of dramatizing the gods as temperaments wandering the streets. These traditions have continued in the rustic regions of the Alps, and various similar traditions, such as Wren day, survived in the Celtic countries until recently. This is commonly used in Holland.

[edit] M [edit] Makara Sankranti, मकर संक्रान्ति (India and Nepal, Hindu)

Since the event is seen as the reversal of the Sun's ebbing presence in the sky, concepts of the birth or renaissance of sun gods have been common and, in cultures using winter solstitially based cyclic calendars, the year as reborn has been celebrated with regard to life-death-rebirth deities or new beginnings such as Hogmanay's redding, a New Year washing tradition. In Greek mythology, the gods and goddesses met on the winter and summer solstice, and Hades is permitted to enter Mount Olympus (his domain is the underworld so he of course does not get accepted anyone other time). Also reversal is distinct usual theme as in Saturnalia's slavery and main reversals.

[edit] C [edit] Chawmos (Kalash of Pakistan) [edit] Date [edit] H [edit] Hanukkah (Judaism)

In the ancient traditions of the Kalash human of Pakistan, during winter solstice, a demigod returns to collect prayers and convey them to Dezao, the supreme creature. "During this celebrations women and girls are purified by taking ceremony baths. The men pour water over their brains while they prop up bread. Then the men and boys are purified with water and must not sit on chairs until nightfall when goat's blood is spattered on their faces. Following this purification, a large festival begins, with singing, dance, bonfires, and feasting on goat tripe and additional delicacies".[10]

[edit] Christmas, Natalis Domini (4th century Rome, 11th century England, Christian)

The Winter Solstice Festival or The Extreme of Winter (Chinese and Japanese: 冬至; Korean: 동지; Vietnamese: Đông chí) (Pinyin: Dōng zhì), (Rōmaji: Tōji), (Romaja:Dongji) is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the dongzhi solar term on or around December 21 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest; i.e., on the first day of the dongzhi solar term. The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there ambition be days with longer sunshine hours and accordingly an boost in assured energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "Returning"). Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get attach. One movement that occurs during these get togethers (principally in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (湯圓, as conspicuous in Mandarin Pinyin: Tāng Yuán) or balls of glutinous rice, which signify reunion. In Korea, alike balls of glutinous rice (Korean: 새알심) (English pronunciation:Saealsim), is prepared in a orthodox porridge made with sweet ruddy bean (Korean: 팥죽)(English pronunciation:Patjook). Patjook was believed to have a special power and sprayed around houses on winter solstice to repulse cursed spirits. This practice was based on a traditional folk tale, in which the ghost of a male that accustomed to detest patjook comes haunting innocent villagers on the winter solstice.

Theologically, Maidyarem is associated with Vahman, the Amesha Spenta (alternatively Holy Immortal) who created the original ox, and all livestock, and is related with agreeable plans and purposes. Maidyarem is commemorated in Dey, the tenth month of the Zoroastrian calendar, from the sixteenth (Mihr) to the twentieth (Bahram) day. There are also presumptions namely along the Persian calendar many commemorated above the final daytime of the Persian month Azar, the longest night of the year, when the forces of Ahriman are assumed to be by the time their strength. The next day, the 1st day of the month Dey, known as khoram ruz alternatively khore ruz (the day of sun) belongs to God (Ahura Mazda). Since the days are getting longer and the nights shorter, this day marks the victory of Sun over the darkness. The cause was celebrated in the antique Persian Deygan Festival dedicated to Ahura Mazda, and Mithra above the first day of the month Dey.[12]

Hanukkah (Hebrew: חֲנֻכָּה, Tiberian: Ḥănukkāh, nowadays usually spelled חנוכה pronounced [χanuˈka] in Modern Hebrew, also romanized as Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE, Hanukkah is inspected for 8 nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may happen at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

[edit] P [edit] Perchta ritual (Germania, Alps)

Christmas or Christ's Mass is one of the most popular Christian celebrations as well as one of the most globally recognized mid-winter celebrations in the Northern hemisphere. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, called the "Son of God," the second entity of the Holy Trinity, as well as "Savior of the World." The birth is observed on December 25, which was the Roman winter solstice upon establishment of the Julian Calendar.[11] See Christian Nativity. Universal activities include feasting, Midnight Masses and singing Christmas carols about the Nativity. Good actions and gift giving in the tradition of St. Nicholas or Santa Claus is also observed. Many observe the holiday for twelve days leadership up to the Epiphany.

[edit] S [edit] Shab-e Chelleh, یلدا , Yaldā (2nd millennium BC Persian, Iranian)

Junkanoo, in The Bahamas, Junkunno or Jonkanoo, in Jamaica, is a imaginary masquerade, parade and street festival, suspected to be derived from either Dzon'ku 'Nu (tr: Witch-doctor) of the West black Papaws, an Ewe people[17] or Njoku Ji, an Alusi (Igbo: deity) of the Igbo people.[18] It is traditionally performed through the streets towards the end of December, and involves participants dressed in a kind of mythical costumes, such as the Cow Head, the Hobby Horse,womens northwardly face denali [ Meitan ] the here, the Wild Indian, and the Devil. The parades are accompanied by bands usually consisting of fifes, drums, and coconut graters used as scrapers, and Jonkanoo songs are also sung. A similar practice was once common in coastal North Carolina, where it was called John Canoe, John Koonah, or John Kooner. John Canoe was likened to the wassailing tradition of medieval Britain. John Canoe was interpreted by many Euro-Americans to bear mighty resemblance to the social inversion rituals that marked the ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia.

[edit] W [edit] We Tripantu (Mapuche in southern Chile) [amend] Meán Geimhridh, Celtic Midwinter (Celtic, Ancient Welsh, Neodruidic)

We Tripantu (Mapudungun tr: new sunrise) is the conclusion of the Mapuche New Year that takes area between June 21 and June 24 in the Gregorian calendar.[37] It is the Mapuche's equivalent to the Inti Raymi. The ancestral incertidubre resided up throughout the year's longest night with solicitude that the next day would not come. After three days it became explicit that the winter was diminishing. The Pachamama (Quechua tr: Mother Earth), Nuke Mapu (uke' Mapu) begins to blossom fertilized by Sol, from the Andean heights to the southern peak. Antu (Pillan), Inti (Aymara),the north face down jacket, or Rapa (rapanui) Sol, the sun starts to come back to world, after the longest night of the year: it's winter Solstice. Todo begin to blossom anew.[38]

[edit] Brumalia (Roman Kingdom)

In ancient Slavonic cultures, the celebration of Kaleda began by Winter Solstice and lasted for ten days. In Russia, this festival was afterward applied to Christmas Eve yet maximum of the practices were lost afterward the Soviet Revolution. Each home made a fire in their hearth and invited their personal family gods to join in the festivities. Children camouflage themselves on evenings and nights and as Koledari, visited houses and sang wishes of good luck, like Shchedryk, to hosts. As a reward, they were given little awards, a institution shrieked Kolyadovanie, many like the old wassailing or mummers Tradition.[19][20]

Originally the name Giuli signified a 60 day tide beginning at the lunar midwinter of the late Scandinavian Norse and West Germanic tribes. The arrival of Juletid accordingly came to refer to the midwinter celebrations. By the late Viking Age, the Yule celebrations came to specify a great solstitial Midwinter festival that amalgamated the traditions of various midwinter celebrations along Europe, like Mitwinternacht, Modrasnach, Midvinterblot, and the Teutonic solstice celebration, Feast of the Dead. A documented example of this is in 960, when King Håkon of Norway signed into decree that Jul was to be celebrated on the night leading into December 25, to aline it with the Christian celebrations. Fall butme Norse sects, Yule logs were lit to honor Thor, the god of thunder. Feasting would continue until the log burned out, three or as many as twelve days. The indigenous lore of the Icelandic Jól continued beyond the Middle Ages, but was condemned when the Reformation arrived. The celebration continues today throughout Northern Europe and somewhere in name and traditions, for Christians as representative of the nativity of Jesus on the night of December 24, and for others as a cultural winter celebration on the 24th or for some, the date of the solstice.[39][40]

[edit] Midvinterblót (Swedish folk religion)

Soyalangwul is the winter solstice ceremony of the Zuni and the Hopitu Shinumu, "The Peaceful Ones," also known as the Hopi. It is held on December 21, the shortest day of the year. The cardinal intention of the ritual is to ceremonially bring the sun back from its long winter slumber. It also marks the beginning of another wheel of the Wheel of the Year, and is a time for purification. Pahos (prayer sticks) are made prior to the Soyal rite, to bless all the community, including their families, animals, and plants. The kivas (divine underground ritual rooms) are ritually opened to brand the beginning of the Kachina season.[35][36]

[edit] Sanghamitta Day (Buddhist) [edit] K [edit] Karachun (Ancient Western Slavic) [edit] Lohri (India)

For an unknown period, Lá an Dreoilín or Wren day has been celebrated in Ireland, the Isle of Man and Wales on December 26. Crowds of people, called wrenboys, take to the roads in various parts of Ireland, dressed in motley clothes, wearing masks or fodder suits and accompanied by musicians supposedly in remembrance of the festival that was celebrated by the Druids. Previously the practice involved the slaying of a wren, and singing anthems while carrying the bird from house to house, stopping in for food and merriment.

The solstice itself may have been a special moment of the annual cycle of the year even during neolithic times. Astronomical events, which during ancient times controlled the mating of animals, sowing of crops and metering of winter reserves between harvests, show how various cultural mythologies and traditions have appeared. This is attested by physical remains in the layouts of late Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites such as Stonehenge in Britain and Newgrange in Ireland. The basic axes of both of these monuments seem to have been carefully aligned on a sight-line pointing to the winter solstice sunrise (Newgrange) and the winter solstice sunset (Stonehenge). Significant in respect of Stonehenge is the fact that the Great Trilithon was erected outwards from the hub of the memorial, i.e., its flat flat face was turned towards the midwinter Sun.[5]

In Punjab, the winter solstice is celebrated as Lohri. Lohri is of Punjabi folk religion origin [24] It finds no mention in the Hindu Puranas but has over time been twinned with the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti which is celebrated a day after Lohri and is known as Maghi. For this reason, Lohri is not actually celebrated on the winter solstice but at the end of the month, Paush.

Pagans still gather at sites like Stonehenge on the day of Yule.[42]

[edit] I [edit] Inti Raymi (Inca: Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador)

The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a matchless candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Hanukiah, one added light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. The typical Menorah consists of 9 bough. An extra light called a shamash (Hebrew: שמש, "waiter" or "sexton")[1] is also lit each night for the purpose of lighting the others, and is given a another location, usually on or underneath the rest. The "shamash" symbolically supplies light that may be used.

[edit] History and cultural significance [edit] Lucia, Feast of St. Lucy (Ancient Swedish, Scandinavian Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox)

Traditionally Hogmany was a day of preparation and the celebrations did not begin until after midnight i.e. into the New Year. It was like many winter festivals and actually celebrated the end of winter and the return of the sun.

Originally celebrated by the ancient Greeks as Kronia, the festival of Cronus, Saturnalia was the feast at which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of Saturn, which originally took place on 17 December, but amplified to a entire week, up to 23 December. A massive and important public festival in Rome, it contained the accustomed sacrifices, a couch set in front of the temple of Saturn and the untying of the cords that leap the sculpture of Saturn during the recess of the year. Besides the public rites there were a catena of holidays and customs celebrated privately. The festivals comprised a school holiday, the production and giving of small presents (saturnalia et sigillaricia) and a special mall (sigillaria). Gambling was allowed for all, even slaves during this period. The toga was not worn, but rather the synthesis, i.e., colorful, informal "dinner clothing" and the pileus (freedman's cap) was worn by everyone. Slaves were exempt from discipline, and remedied their mains with disrespect. The slaves celebrated a dinner ahead, with, or served by the masters. Saturnalia became one of the most popular Roman festivals which led to more tomfoolery, apparent mainly by having mains and slaves ostensibly switch places, temporarily reversing the social mandate. In Greek and Cypriot folklore it was believed that babies connate during the festival were in danger of turning into Kallikantzaroi which bring ... to an end of the Earth after the solstice to occasion distress for mortals. Some would quit colanders on their doorsteps to distract them until the sun returned.

The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the winter solstice usually occurs on December 21 or 22 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.[3]

Sanghamitta is in honor of the Buddhist nun who brought a branch of the Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka where it has flourished for over 2,000 years.

In research stations throughout Antarctica, Midwinter is warmhearted celebrated as a direction to mark the truth that the people who winter-over fair went through half their turn of responsibility. Depending on the station the celebrations can last from a day to a week and are typically marked by parties, crew games, redecoration of the premises and days off go. Note, whatever, that the Northern Hemisphere winter solstice of Dec. 21 is actually the summer solstice in Antarctica; the Antarctic midwinter celebration is held in June.[27]

In the Aegean civilizations, the exclusively female midwinter ritual, Lenaea or Lenaia, was the Festival of the Wild Women. In the woods, a man or bull representing the god Dionysus was torn to pieces and eaten by Maenads. Later in the ritual a child, representing Dionysus reborn, was presented. Lenaion, the first month of the Delian calendar, derived its name from the festival's name. By classical times, the person sacrifice had been replaced by that of a goat, and the women's role had changed to that of funeral mourners and observers of the birth. Wine miracles were performed by the priests, in which priests would seal water or juice in a room overnight and the next day they would have turned into wine. The marvel was said to have been performed by Dionysus and the Lenaians. By the 5th century BC the ritual had become a Gamelion festival for theatrical championships, often held in Athens in the Lenaion theater. The festival inspired the ancient Roman Brumalia.[21][22][23]

Direct observation of the solstice by amateurs is laborious because the sun moves too slowly at either solstice to determine its specific day, let unattended its immediate. Knowledge of when the event occurs has only recently been facilitated to near its immediate according to accurate astronomical data tracking. It is not feasible to detect the actual instant of the solstice (by definition, one can not observe that an thing has stopped moving until one makes a second observation in time showing that it has not moved beyond from the antecedent blot, or that it has moved in the inverse intention). Further, to be precise to a unattached day one must be competent to observe a change in azimuth or height less than or equal to about 1/60 of the angular diameter of the sun. Observing that it occurred within a two day period is easier, requiring an observation accuracy of only about 1/16 of the angular diameter of the sun. Thus, many observations are of the day of the solstice rather than the instant.[7] This is often done by watching the sunrise and sunset or vice versa or using an astronomically aligned instrument that allows a ray of light to cast on a certain point around that time.

Lucia or Lussi Night happens on December 13, what was supposed to be the longest night of the year. The feast was later appropriated by the Catholic Church in the 16th century as St. Lucy's Day. It was believed in some folklore of Sweden that if people, especially children, did not carry out their chores,karen millen cocktail dresses, the female demon, the Lussi or Lucia dead dunkle would come to penalize them.[25]

[edit] Hogmanay (Scotland)

Derived from a pre-Zoroastrian festival, Shab-e Chelleh is celebrated on the eve of the first day of winter in the Persian calendar, which always falls on the solstice. Yalda is the most important non-new-year Iranian festival in modern-day Iran and it has been long celebrated in Iran by all ethnic/religious teams. According to Iranian mythology, Mithra was born at the end of this night after the long-expected defeat of darkness against light. "Shab-e Chelleh" is now an important social occasion, when family and friends get together for amusement and merriment. Usually families collect at their elders' homes. Different kinds of dried fruits, nuts, seeds and fresh winter fruits are expended. The presence of dried and fresh fruits is reminiscence of the ancient feasts to celebrate and pray to the deities to assure the conservation of the winter harvests. Watermelons, persimmons and pomegranates are traditional characters of this celebration, all characterizing the sun. It used to be normal to stay wake up Yalda night until sunrise eating, drinking, listening to stories and poems, but this is no longer very common as most people have entities to do on the next day. During the early Roman Empire many Syrian Christians fled from harassment into the Sassanid Empire of Iran, introducing the term Yaldā, meaning birth, causing Shab-e Yaldā to became synonymous with Shab-e Chelleh. Although both terms are used interchangeably, Chelleh is more commonly preferred for this occasion.[12]

The winter solstice occurs exactly when the axial slant of a planet's polar hemisphere is farthest away from the star that it orbits. Earth's maximum axial tilt to our star, the Sun, during a solstice is 23° 26'. More apparently from high latitudes, a hemisphere's winter solstice occurs on the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the sun's annual most elevation in the sky is the lowest.[2] Since the winter solstice lasts only a moment in time, other terms are often used for the day on which it occurs, such as midwinter, the longest night or the first day of winter.

[edit] Lá an Dreoilín, Wren day(Celtic, Irish, Welsh, Manx) [edit] Observances Winter solstice
Lawrence Hall of Science visitors observe sunset on day of the winter solstice using the Sunstones II Also called Midwinter, Yule, the Longest Night Observed by Various cultures, ancient and modern Type Cultural, seasonal, astronomical Significance Astronomically marks the beginning of shortening nights and lengthening days Date Between December 21 and December 22 (NH)
Between June 20 and June 21 (SH) Celebrations Festivals, costing time with adored ones, feasting, singing, dancing, fires Related to Winter festivals and the solstice

In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar in his Julian calendar built December 25 as the date of the winter solstice of Europe (Latin: Bruma). Since then, the inconsistency among the calendar year (365.2500 days) and the tropical year (~365.2421897 days) shook the day associated with the tangible astronomical solstice along approximately 3 days every four centuries, arriving to December 12 during the 16th centenary. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII judged to restore the exact correspondence between seasons and civilian year but, doing so, he did no make reference to the old of the Roman tyrant, but to the Council of Nicea of 325, as the duration of definition of major Christian feasts. So, the Pope annulled the 10-day mistake amassed between the 16th and the 4th century, but not the 3-day an between the 4th AD and the first BC century. This change accommodated the calendar bringing the northern winter solstice to around December 22. Yearly, in the Gregorian calendar, the solstice still fluctuates a day or 2 but, in the long term, only about one day every 3000 years.

Meán Geimhridh (Irish tr: midwinter) or Grianstad an Gheimhridh (Ir tr: winter solstice) is a name sometimes used for hypothetical midwinter rituals or celebrations of the Proto-Celtic tribes, Celts, and late Druids. In Ireland's calendars, the solstices and equinoxes all occur at about midpoint in each season. The passage and chamber of Newgrange (Pre-Celtic or possibly Proto-Celtic 3,グッチ ジーンズ Youku 's blatant and chilly 6 Biequ,200 BC), a tomb in Ireland, are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and penetrates the corridor to light up the chamber. The dramatic event lasts for 17 minutes at dawn from the 19th to the 23rd of December. The point of roughness is the term for the winter solstice in Wales which in ancient Welsh mythology, was when Rhiannon gave birth to the sacred son, Pryderi. In Britain, during the 18th century, there was a revival of interest in Druids. Today, amongst Neo-druids, Alban Arthan (Welsh tr. light of winter but derived from Welsh poem, Light of Arthur) is celebrated on the winter solstice with a ritualistic festival, and gift giving to the depressed.

[edit] Soyal (Zuni and Hopi of North America)

Goru is the (December) winter solstice ceremony of the Pays Dogon of Mali. It is the last harvest ritual and celebrates the appearance of humanity from the sky god, Amma, through Nommo inside the Aduno Koro, or the "Ark of the World".[13]

[edit] D [edit] Deygān, Maidyarem (Zoroastrian)

The Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun was a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the sun god Inti. It also marked the winter solstice and a new year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere. One ceremony performed by the Inca pastors was the tying of the sun. In Machu Picchu there is still a large col of stone called an Intihuatana, definition "hitching post of the sun" or literally for tying the sun. The ceremony to tie the sun to the stone was to prevent the sun from escaping. The Spanish conquest, not ascertaining Machu Picchu, broke all the other intihuatana, extinguishing the sun tying practice. The Catholic Church managed to suppress all Inti festivals and ceremonies by 1572. Since 1944 a melodramatic performance of the Inti Raymi has been taking place at Sacsayhuamán (two km. from Cusco) on June 24 of each year, attracting thousands of regional observers and passengers. The Monte Alto culture may have also had a similar tradition.[15][16]

Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals, assemblies, rituals or other celebrations around that time.[4]

[edit] Mummer's Day, Montol (Celtic, Cornish) [edit] B [edit] Beiwe Festival (Sámi of Northern Fennoscandia) [edit] J [edit] Junkanoo, John Canoe, Dzon'ku 'Nu (West Africa, Bahamas, Jamaica, 19th-century North Carolina, Virginia)

The figures in the drafts show the differences between the Gregorian calendar and Persian Jalāli calendar in reference to the actual yearly time of the winter solstice of the northern hemisphere, the December solstice. The error shifts by slightly less than 1/4 day per year; in the Gregorian calendar it is corrected by a leap year every 4th year, disregarding three such amendments in every 400 years, so that the mean length of a calendar year is 365 97/400 days; while in the Persian calendar every eighth leap-cycle is amplified to 5 years, making the mean 365 8/33 days, shorter than the Gregorian mean by one day in 13200 years.

[edit] See also Summer solstice Burning of the Clocks Effect of sun angle on climate Festival of Lights (disambiguation) Festive nature Festivus Halcyon days Chanukkah HumanLight Kwanzaa List of winter festivals Midsummer Midwinter Christmas New Years Pongal Solstice [edit] Sources v · d · eWinter solstice and midwinter festivals Africa Americas Asia Europe † dagger indicates extinction. ° degree symbol indicates changes in date, name or location. ( ) signify demographic [edit] A [edit] Amaterasu celebration, Requiem of the Dead (7th century Japan)

The Night of Winter. Since the night is the longest in the year, ancient clans believed that it was the night before a victory of light over darkness and signified a rebirth of the sun. The sun plays an important character in several ancient religions still practiced by some Kurds in counting to its importance in Zoroastrianism.

[edit] R [edit] Rozhanitsa Feast (12th century Eastern Slavic Russian)

Adapting the Egyptian Osiris Celebrations, the Babylonians held the year renaissance or new year celebration, the Zagmuk Festival. It lasted 10 days overlapping either the winter solstice or vernal equinox in its heart tip. It was a festival held in observation of the sun god Marduk's combat over darkness. The Babylonians held either land and river parades. Sacaea, as Berossus referred to it, had festivals characterized with a subversion of order leading up to the new year. Masters and slaves interchanged, a jeer potentate was crowned and masquerades clogged the avenues. This has been a recommended precursor to the Festival of Kronos, Saturnalia and possibly Purim.[43][44]

[edit] Y [edit] Yule, Jul, Jól, Joul, Joulu, Jõulud, Géol, Geul (Viking Age, Northern Europe, Germanic cultures) [edit] Lenæa (Ancient and Hellenistic Greece)

In ancient Latvia, Ziemassvētki, meaning winter festival, was celebrated on December 21 as one of the two most important holidays, the other being Jāņi. Ziemassvētki celebrated the birth of Dievs, the maximum god of Latvian mythology. The two weeks before Ziemassvetki are called Veļu laiks, the "season of ghosts." During the festival, candles were lit for Dieviņš and a fire kept burning until the end, when its extinguishing signaled an end to the unhappiness of the previous year. During the ensuing feast, a space at the chart was reserved for Ghosts, who was said to arrive on a sleigh. During the feast, certain foods were always eaten: bread, beans, peas, meat and piglet nose and feet. Carolers (Budeļi) worked door to gate singing songs and eating from many different houses. The holiday was later accustomed by Christians in the middle ages. It is now celebrated on the 24th, 25th and 26 December and largely recognized as both a Christian and secular cultural observance. Lithuanians of the Romuva religion continue to celebrate a another of the native polytheistic holiday.

Influenced by the Ancient Greek Lenaia festival, Brumalia was an ancient Roman solstice festival honoring Bacchus, generally held for a month and ending December 25. The festival included drinking and merriment. The name is derived from the Latin word bruma, meaning "shortest day" or "winter solstice". The festivities almost always occurred on the night of December 24.

Karachun, Korochun or Kračún was a Slavic holiday similar to Halloween as a day when the Black God and other malign spirits were most potent. It was celebrated by Slavs on the longest night of the year. On this night, Hors, symbolising the old sun, becomes smaller as the days become shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, and dies on December 22nd, the December solstice. He is said to be defeated by the dark and evil powers of the Black God. In honour of Hors, the Slavs danced a ritual chain-dance which was called the horo. Traditional chain-dancing in Bulgaria is still called horo. In Russia and Ukraine, it is known as khorovod. On December 23rd Hors is resurrected and becomes the new sun, Koleda. On this day, Western Slavs burned fires at cemeteries to keep their abandoned loved ones warm,men's ferragamo shoes Dan parsing misdeed in the analytic of Confucius yet, systematized dinings in the honor of the die so as they would not undergo from starve and lit wooden logs at local crossroads.

[edit] Yule, Jul (Germanic Neopaganism) In Germanic Neopagan sects, Yule is celebrated with gatherings that often involve a repast and gift giving. Further tries at reconstruction of surviving accounts of historical celebrations are often made, a hallmark being variations of the traditional. The Icelandic Ásatrú and the Asatru Folk Assembly in the US recognize Jól or Yule as permanent for 12 days, beginning on the date of the winter solstice.[41] [edit] Yule (Wiccan; Druidic) In Wicca,moncler ski jackets, Yule is observed as one of eight solar holidays, or Sabbat. In most Wiccan groups or covens, Yule marks the rebirth of the Great God in the form of the solstice sun. Although the name Yule may have been appropriated from Germanic and Norse paganism, units of the celebration are of modern origin. The basis of the celebration is the northern Eurasian Indo-European celebration of the birth of Lugh or Odin. It was a time of great fires and festivities. Saint Patrick appeared to not be cared that Irish Druidism and Christianity were mirrors of each other. The Sun was central to the Celtic religion because all life and subsistence relies on it, and the pursuance of the setting and rising sun were of great interest. In Irish romance the sun is born as one of a trinity. The other two are killed by Balor, their grandfather Winter. It marks the turning of the year and the beginning of the cycle. Lugh rises to power in spring and is the son, upon marrying the Earth Britta, Birgitta, Bridget, or Brigantia he becomes the father, personified in the Norse Odin. In autumn, Lugh dies to become a ghost, Balor. Each incarnation of the ghost tries to kill the next incarnation of the son or Sun. The period between the matrimony of the Earth and the Sun is approximately nine months. [edit] Saturnalia, Chronia (Ancient Greek, Roman Republic)

In modern times, communities in the Kurdistan district still observe the night as a holiday. Many families prepare large feasts for their communities and the kid play games and are given sweets in similar form to modern-day Halloween practices.

Occurring June 20 – June 22 the Maruaroa o Takurua is seen by the New Zealand Maori as the middle of the winter season. It follows directly after the rise of Matariki (Pleiades) which marked the beginning of the New Year and was said to be when the Sun turned from his northern journey with his winter-bride Takurua (the star Sirius) and began his journey back to his Summer-bride Hineraumati.

[edit] Maruaroa o Takurua, (New Zealand, Maori) [edit] Ziemassvētki (Latvian, Baltic, Romuva)

Mōdraniht was a Germanic feast. It was believed that dreams on this night foretold events in the upcoming year. By 730, it was thought by Bede to have been observed by the Anglo-Saxons on the eve of the winter solstice. After the reemergence of Christmas in Britain Mothers Night was acknowledged by many as one of the Twelve Days of Christmas.[28][29]

In late 7th century Japan, festivities were held to celebrate the reemergence of Amaterasu or Amateras, the sun goddess of Japanese mythology, from her privacy in a grotto. Tricked by the other gods with a loud celebration and then she peeks out to see and finds the picture of herself in a mirror and is convinced by the other gods to return, bringing brightness back to the macrocosm. Requiems for the dead were held and Manzai and Shishimai were performed throughout the night, awaiting the sunrise. Aspects of this tradition survive on New Years.[8]

A B C D G H I J K L M P R S W Y Z
UTC Date and Time of
Solstice[1] year Solstice
June Solstice
Dec day time day time 2007 21 18:06 22 06:08 2008 20 23:59 21 12:04 2009 21 05:46 21 17:47 2010 21 11:28 21 23:38 2011 21 17:16 22 05:30 2012 20 23:09 21 11:12 2013 21 05:04 21 17:11 2014 21 10:51 21 23:03 2015 21 16:38 22 04:48

The New Years Eve celebration of Scotland is called Hogmanay. The name derives from the old Scots name for Yule gifts of the Middle Ages. The early Hogmanay celebrations were originally brought to Scotland by the invading and capturing Norse who celebrated a solstitial new year (England celebrated the new year on March 25). In 1600, with the Scottish applying of the January 1 New year and the church's consistent oppression of the solstice celebrations, the holiday traditions moved to December 31. The festival is still referred to as the Yules by the Scots of the Shetland Islands who start the festival on December 18 and hold the last tradition (a Troll chasing ritual) on January 18. The most widespread Scottish custom is the practice of first-footing which starts quickly after midnight on New Years. This involves being the first person (commonly high and dark haired) to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbor and constantly involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less common today), coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a fruit pudding) proposed to bring different varieties of luck to the householder. Food and drink (as the gifts, and constantly Flies cemetery) are then given to the guests.[14]

Mummer's Day referencing the animist garbs, or Darkie Day referencing the soot facing ritual, is an ancient Cornish midwinter celebration that occurs every year on December 26 and New Year's Day in Padstow, Cornwall. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated bring offCornwall where people would guise dance and disguise themselves by blackening up their faces or wearing masks. In Penzance the festival has been given the name Montol believing it to be the Celtic Cornish word for Winter Solstice.

[edit] G [edit] Goru (Dogon of Mali) [edit] Koleda, Коляда, Sviatki, Dazh Boh (Ancient Eastern Slavic and Sarmatian) This treatise needs consideration from an expert on the subject. See the speak page for details. WikiProject Russia or the Russia Portal may be able to aid recruit an specialist. (November 2008) [edit] Z [edit] Zagmuk, Sacaea (Ancient Mesopotamia, Sumerian, Babylonian) [edit] Midwinter (Antarctica)

Before the scientific revolution many forms of observances; astronomical, symbolic or ritualistic, had evolved according to the beliefs of various cultures, many of which are still practiced today. The following is an alphabetical menu of observances believed to be directly correlated to the winter solstice. For other Winter observances watch List of winter festivals.:

In 12th century Russia, the eastern Slavs adored the winter mama goddess, Rozhnitsa, attempting bloodless sacrifices like honey, bread and cheese. Bright colored winter embroideries describing the antlered goddess were made to prestige the Feast of Rozhanitsa in late December. And pearly, deer-shaped cookies were given as fortunate gifts. Some Russian women persisted the detection of these traditions into the 20th century.[31]

[edit] Şewy Yelda (Kurdish)

Makara Sankranti, celebrated at the beginning of Uttarayana उत्तरायण, is the only Hindu festival which is based on the celestial calendar rather than the lunar calendar. The zodiac having drifted from the solar calendar has caused the festival to immediately occur in mid-January (see precession of equinoxes). In Tamil Nadu it is celebrated as the festival of Pongal. The day before Pongal, they celebrate Bhogi. In Assam it is called Magh Bihu (the First day of Magh), in Punjab Maghi and in Hindi speaking states, West Bengal and Maharshtra it is observed as Makar Sankranti and is celebrated by exchanging balls of sesame candy (Til Gur) and requesting each other to be as sweet as the jellybean balls for the next year. It is called Makara Sankrant because the sun enters the zodiacal sign of Capricorn on 14 January (Makar averaging Capricorn). It is celebrated with much pomp in Andhra Pradesh, where the festival is celebrated for three days and is more of a cultural festival than an auspicious day as in other chapters of India. In some parts of India, the festival is celebrated by taking dips in the Ganges or another river and offering water to the Sun god. The submerge is said to purify the ego and bestow punya. In many states, chiefly in Gujarat, families fly bright colorful kites from their domes all day and into the night. It is a form of celebrating and welcoming the longer days. It is also quite common to feed grass to the cows on this day. In Assam on Bihu Eve or Uruka families construct house-like structures called bhelaghar and separate large bhelaghar are built by the community as a whole. Different sorts of twine are tied around fruit trees. Traditionally, oil is stolen for the last ceremony, when all the bhelaghar are scalded. Their remains are then placed at the fruit trees. Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest. Since the festival is celebrated in midwinter, the foods ready for this festival are such that they reserve the body warm and give lofty energy. Laddu of til made with jaggery is specialty of the festival.[26]

[edit] Sol Invictus Festival (3rd century Roman Empire)

The Saami, indigenous people of Finland, Sweden and Norway, worship Beiwe, the sun-goddess of fertility and sanity. She voyages through the sky in a framework made of reindeer bones with her daughter, Beiwe-Neia, to herald back the greenery on which the reindeer feed. On the winter solstice, her worshipers sacrifice white petticoat animals, and thread the meat onto sticks which they kneel into rings and knot with shine ribbons. They also cover their doorposts with butter so Beiwe tin eat it and begin her excursion once again.[9]

[edit] Modranicht, Modresnach (Germanic)

Sol Invictus ("the undefeated Sun") or, more entirely, Deus Sol Invictus ("the undefeated sun Lord") was a religious title that allowed several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-Gabal, a Syrian sun god; Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian; and Mithras, a soldiers' god of Persian origin.[32] Emperor Elagabalus (218–222) introduced the festival of the birth of the Unconquered Sun (or Dies Natalis Solis Invicti) to be celebrated on December 25, and it approached the altitude of its popularity under Aurelian, who promoted it as an empire-wide vacation.[33] With the growing popularity of the Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth came to be given much of the admission previously given to a sun god, thereby including Jesus in the tradition.[34] This was later condemned by the early Catholic Church for associating Jesus with pagan practices.[cite needed]

There is dispute if Hanukkah should be classified as a winter solstice holiday. The Jewish calendar is nor solar neither lunar in nature but exists as a tension between the two. As such, while the accidents that are commemorated by Hanukkah happened on or around the solstice, because of the use of the lunar calendar, Hanukkah is sometimes celebrated as early as late November.