What is the difference between all of the Winter Solstice celebrations? I have heard different things, and I would like to know what is the truth, and what is the made-up information.
2007-12-21 21:03:31 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. It is a turning point because from then on the days begin to get longer.
The actual celebration depends on the religion and your personal beliefs.
I consider myself to be neo-pagan (not quite Wiccan) and this is what I believe:
On the winter solstice we celebrate one of the lesser Sabbats, Yule. On this day, the Goddess gives birth to the God. This belief is because the God is represented by the sun, and at the winter solstice the sun is "reborn".
Some traditions are the Yule log. This is burnt and then the burnt bits can be collected up and used as a charm until next year. Traditionally it is lit from a piece of last years Yule log.
Another tradition is the giving of presents. The reason that this is done is because in very cold places people got snowed in for the winter, so they made gifts for friends and family. After Yule when the weather began to warm up they visited their friends and gave them the gifts.
There are many other traditions and beliefs and ways of celebrating Yule, but these are just are few of the things that I believe and have learnt about.
2007-12-21 21:19:12 · answer #1 · answered by hiddenstar 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Solstice is one of the 4 key points in the calendar to mark the seasons. It is the longest night and shortest day during the Northern Hemisphere's winter. It is the end of the sun's apparent movement to the south.
There are a lot of different celebrations to represent this and the are all close to the right date. The timing differences can be accounted for by accumulated calendar errors.
The western world celebrates New Year at this time too.
Anyway, this astronomical event has been observed under different names as far back in time as we have records for. It predates Christianity, Judaism, Egyptian religions and even the Sumerians. There are indications we were observing it when we were still cavemen using stone tools.
To try to explain all the differences between all the traditional celebrations would fill a book (correction, has filled many books).
I suggest you choose whichever celebration pleases you and celebrate with that.
It is a time to gather friends and family together to celebrate another year of life.
Merry Xmas, happy new year.
2007-12-22 05:16:30 · answer #2 · answered by Buke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Winter Solstice also known as Yule, Christmas, and Saturnalia, occurs in mid December. It celebrates the birth of the new Solar year and the beginning of Winter.
2007-12-22 05:20:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The shortest day of the year = 21st Dec so yesterday now - the sun returns.
2007-12-22 05:23:20 · answer #4 · answered by Freethinking Liberal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
celebration the first day of winter.solice.ca.
2007-12-22 05:09:31 · answer #5 · answered by parkituse j 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋