Winter Solstice For many of us, it will be a dark and cold day of the year. The Solstice and Other Winter Holidays Yule-Wiccan Traditions. St. Lucia’s Day St. Lucia’s Day is a Scandinavian festival celebrated in Sweden, Norway and in some parts of Finland. One of those traditional winter solstice celebrations was the Yule Goat. Winter Solstice Traditions: Rituals for a Simple ... Christmas is also referred to as Yule, a word derived from the Norse jól or Juul , referring to the pre-Christian pre-Christian festival observed in Scandinavia at the time of the winter solstice. TRADITIONS 5 steps to Celebrate Winter Solstice Winter Solstice has been celebrated in cultures the world over for thousands of years. The Winter Solstice | Celebrating Yule The five most common ones are Easter, the Swedish National Day, midsummer, the crayfish party and Christmas. Modern traditions sees families embracing a variety of dishes; whether traditional Christmas fare, to families of different ethnicities sharing dishes from all over the world. The winter solstice has represented a time of death and rebirth for many ancient traditions, and these beliefs gave birth to a variety of different celebrations. Mistletoe That same log is then burned for 12 continuous days. Mistletoe Like many days we celebrate, ancient festivals observing the winter solstice merged with newer traditions to create the holiday season as we know it today. Yule, or the winter solstice, is recognized as one of these Sabbats. 9 Interesting Winter Solstice Celebrations Around the World. winter solstice Nov 8, 2021 - Explore Danika Carter Your Organic Li's board "Winter Solstice", followed by 3,276 people on Pinterest. Winter Solstice Nowadays, when we hear about the Yule log, most people think of a deliciously rich chocolate dessert. Winter Solstice was also celebrated by several tribes in Central Europe, Southern Europe, Baltic Countries and in other parts of Scandinavia. 27/09/2016. Scandinavian As the holiday or Saturnalia coincided with the winter solstice, this also happened to be the time the people of Scandinavia celebrated Yule. Winter Solstice - Scandinavian Christmas Traditions Winter Solstice Read: The Shortest Day to learn all about the Winter Solstice, plus find activities and science experiments. While the modern Scandinavian holiday marking the … Winter Solstice Traditions & Rituals. For the Greeks, it was Kronia. The fires of Lohri, India. According to the Chinese, Yang symbolizes the positive, and Yin is negative. The pagan Scandinavian and Germanic people of northern Europe celebrated a twelve-day “midwinter” (winter solstice) holiday called Yule. The actual day of Winter Solstice varies depending on the year and can be anytime between the 20th and 23rd of December in the Northern Hemisphere. Nevertheless, the 12 days of Christmas originates from the 12-day long midwinter feast celebrated by the Vikings every winter solstice (the shortest day and longest night of the year). The winter solstice marked the longest day of the year and the slow returning to light and the winter solstice celebration lasted for twelve days. This traditional festival of lights in Scandinavia honors St. Lucia, one of the earliest Christian martyrs, but was incorporated … The Yule Log pastry, often decorated with nuts, cream, or cheese (or all three) is also a symbol of the Yule fire, which before burning was inscribed with runes, and decorated with sprigs of other trees – particularly holly, which stayed green all year – another reminder of the coming of the light. Pagan winter solstice traditions of Yule are decorating the Yule tree, burning the Yule log, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, or caroling. Sharing food, an important part of any celebration, is particularly meaningful during the solstice, as it represents faith in the return of the sun and the harvest. And it’s a great excuse to throw a party. Hǫkunótt - a Norse pagan Yule feast. In fact, in 2020, the winter solstice is still celebrated by cultures all across the world, from the American Southwest to the Middle East, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and China. For people throughout the ages–from the ancient Egyptians and Celts to the Hopi–midwinter has been a significant time of ritual, reflection, and renewal. The Romans had Saturnalia. Walpurgis Night. Celebrated on April 30, Walpurgis Night, also called Valborg Night, is a Viking pagan festival that marked the coming of spring.Midsummer. When June arrives, the flower garlands that adorn the Swedish house indicate that midsummer, or Midsommardagen, has arrived.Swedish Christmas. ...Easter. ... Hǫkunótt - a Norse pagan Yule feast. See more ideas about winter solstice, solstice, yule. It was believed that the goats Tanngrisnir (“Gap-tooth”) and Tanngnjóstr (“Tooth-grinder”), who pulled Thor’s chariot, provided food for the god and his friends. We take a look at some of the traditions and rituals from around the world that welcome in the winter solstice, taking place on December 21st! The actual date of the winter solstice differs from year to year, and can occur any day between December 20 and December 23, though it mostly falls on 21st or 22nd of December. Scandinavian Christmas cookie baking traditions have deep historic roots and influences: Keeping the pantry filled to guard against famine during fierce northern winters. In pagan Scandinavia the winter festival was the Yule, celebrated by burning the hearth fires of the magically significant Yule log. For the ancient Scandinavians, the beginning of the end of winter was a very important reason for celebration. The Celtic winter solstice was later mixed with the Roman tradition of Saturnalia, the Scandinavian Yule tradition and Christian Christmas. For the Greeks, it was Kronia. Many ancient civilizations celebrated the winter solstice. St. Lucia’s Day. The ritual was observed in the 6th century by the Byzantine chronicler Procopius, who … Yule (modern Jul in Scandinavia) is said to have begun as a sun celebration, complete with feasts and parties. Use our tips and recipes to ensure your Winter Solstice Party is the best it can be. Across cultures, winter solstice inspired celebrations that have since combined with Christianity’s Christmas. Other Winter Solstice Traditions. In old Europe, it was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul, meaning wheel. These feasts are reminiscent of the current Julbord or Smorgasbord (more on that below). “Yule” came from the Norse word hweol, … This ancient Chinese Winter Solstice celebration involves traditions like worshipping... St. Lucia Day. An interesting example of this is a testimony of an Anglo-Saxon historian Bede, writing around the year 730. The pagan Scandinavian and Germanic people of northern Europe celebrated a twelve-day "midwinter" (winter solstice) holiday called Yule (also called Jul, Julblot, jólablót, midvinterblot, julofferfest). The Scandinavian Santa Lucia Celebrations Explained ... pre-Christian traditions and rituals were ‘tagged on’ to new religious ones. The ancient Germanic/Norse year was divided into two seasons: Summer and Winter. This start of the solar year is a celebration of Light and the rebirth of the Sun. The winter solstice is one of the oldest pagan holidays celebrated by people all around the world. by Matthias Kamann. Finland looks as we imagine Santa Claus’ workshop in the North Pole, and Fins like to joke … The Sabbats are pagan holidays that honor the turning of the seasons based on the sun. The Lucia procession and other Scandinavian Christmas traditions will be the focus of the annual Scandinavian Christmas Fair on December 4th, at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. This is an interesting one since 12 days of Christmas is a tradition far more popular in the United States than it is in Scandinavia. Right here’s the story of this Across cultures, winter solstice inspired celebrations that have since combined with Christianity’s Christmas. Celebrations of the winter solstice didn't end in ancient Rome or Norway. Norse Holidays and Festivals. Other cultures around the world had their own way of honoring the solstice, but Yule was the celebration of … Midsummer The growing and harvesting of crop s, management of domestic animal s, and the ability to hunt wild game … While we may not be having the Yule goat, we can celebrate with a Christmas ham, as many Nordic countries do. Finland. Celebrated in the Scandinavian nations, this festival of lights honours the eponymous saint as well as paying tribute to early Norse solstice traditions. If you’ve always felt like Santa Claus didn’t engage in enough petty crime during his visits, … Winter solstice or Yule is a festival of light. This start of the solar year is a celebration of Light and the rebirth of the Sun. During pre-Christian Scandinavia, Yule, or Juul, was a 12-day long feast celebrating the return of the sun. Winter Solstice 2015: Facts About Pagan Yule Holidays, Wicca Traditions, Ties To Christmas. Additionally, only 60 people are able to enter each year for the winter solstice celebration. In pagan Yule traditions originating in Scandinavia, Winter Solstice celebrations were meant to encourage the sun god to journey back towards the earth after six months of wandering away from it. Here's a read-aloud video: Some believe that celebrating the birth of the “true light of the world” was set in synchronization with the “Yule” … In Celtic mythology seasons are created by two nature gods: the oak king and the holly king. The first toast was to be drunk to Odin "for victory and power to the king", the second to the gods Njörðr and Freyr "for good harvests and for peace", and third, a beaker was to be drunk to the king himself. Scandinavia, as a topic of it self! At the Winter Solstice we reach the depth of that darkness with the longest night of the year. Celebration of the Norse New Year; a festival of 12 nights. This is the most important of all the Norse holidays. On the night of December 20, the god Ingvi Freyr rides over the earth on the back of his shining boar, bringing Light and Love back into the World. Nevertheless, the 12 days of Christmas originates from the 12-day long midwinter feast celebrated by the Vikings every winter solstice (the shortest day and longest night of the year). One of their traditions was the yule bread loaf. Darkness has reached its peak. Dongzhi Festival. At this point, the northern hemisphere is tipped away from the sun at the furthest point in our annual orbit. In addition, toasts were drunk to the memory of departed kinsfolk. Our Favorite Scandinavian Christmas Traditions. In Sweden, Midsummer’s Eve is one of the most important days of the year, rivaling Christmas with its festive spirit and traditions. The Solstice and Other Winter Holidays Yule-Wiccan Traditions. Germanic/Scandinavian Winter Solstice. Celebrating Winter Solstice. In some Norse myths , God Thor was said to riding a flying chariot drawn by two goats. Leading up to Christmas, we’ll be decorating Christmas trees, ringing in the Winter Solstice and eating a few saffron buns for St. Lucia Day on December 13. Candles and a decorated hearth are common parts of the Scandinavian Christmas tradition, passed down from celebrations of Winter Solstice. Winter solstice or Yule is a festival of light. The oldest evidence we have for a possible Scandinavian yuletide feast, was described by the 6th century Byzantine chronicler Procopius, who mentioned that the inhabitants of Scandinavia (called “Thule”) celebrated a feast for the returning sun, some time after the winter solstice (Nordberg 2006: 156).The earliest Old Norse reference to jól, … Pagan winter solstice celebrations in England and Scandinavia Several pagan feasts celebrated at winter solstice in Northern Europe form the roots of modern Christmas. Enjoy classic Solstice stories and songs that were told and sung at the time of the longest nights. Here are some winter solstice celebrations from around the world and the history behind them. Traditionally, Midsummer was celebrated on June 24, the feast day of St. John the Baptist, but the holiday has its roots in … In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, which falls on December 25. Yule Traditions: Decorate Yule Tree 1 St. Lucia’s Day. The Danes really like their pork, so the majority of their Christmas table will consist of that, … Winter Solstice 2020: Traditions, History & Cultural Significance. Observing Winter Solstice was a ritual. Each year, the winter solstice falls on December 21 or 22, the shortest day (and longest night) of the year. Yule, now commonly referred to as Christmastide, is a celebration of rebirth and the longer days of sunshine ahead. Julbord. In Druidic tradition, Winter Solstice is seen as a time of rebirth when Nature’s powers are renewed. Yet above all other rituals, reproducing the sun’s fire by kindling flame on earth is the commonest solstice … Many modern Christmas traditions, such as the Christmas tree , the Christmas wreath, the Yule log, and others, are direct descendants of Yule customs . In Scandinavia, the Winter Solstice is celebrated on Dec. 13, the day on an ancient calendar once reserved for the Winter Solstice, with St. … Within the run-up to Christmas, some individuals in Norway nonetheless observe the day of Santa Lucia, or Saint Lucy. In Wicca there are 2 main stories applied to Yule. The winter solstice was called Jul or Yule, this roughly translated means wheel and was characterised by being troubled by the spirits of winter and death. “Yule” seems to mean feasting, while “tide” means season. Dong Zhi is the time when families gather together to feast. In Wicca … The ancient Norse used the Yule log in their celebration of the return of the sun at winter solstice. In Scandinavia, people have Yule and St. Lucia's Day, while evidence of similar traditions were observed by the Romans, Japanese and Indigenous Americans, as well. Winter Solstice or December Solsticemostly happens on December 21 or 22. Lohri, a celebration of the end of winter and the harvest season, is one of … These feasts are reminiscent of the current Julbord or Smorgasbord (more on that below). 2. Which is actually totally weird, because it is a Christian holiday! Traditionally, Midsummer was celebrated on June 24, the feast day of St. John the Baptist, but the holiday has its roots in a pre-Christian solstice festival. Winter Solstice traditions vary by time and place, but one common thread weaves through them all: light. It is traditionally celebrated by chopping down a tree on the winter solstice and feeding the whole log into the fire. Yule Goat – Julbock. During the darkest of days of the year, candles and fire represented hope, warmth, and rebirth in winter solstice traditions around the … What I describe below is most characteristic of the small Baltic country of Latvia but many of these traditions are shared by its Baltic and Scandinavian neighbors. More about Swedish culture. At Samhain we honour, celebrate and welcome the descent into, and return of, the dark - the beginning of the New Year, acknowledging that all beginnings emerge from darkness. Pagans and neopagans, followers of early European religious traditions, still celebrate the winter solstice as a holiday called Yule. Reference from: rustik.se,Reference from: freelancebeautyspecialist.co.uk,Reference from: bigserpens.com,Reference from: msw24.com,
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