A Winter Solstice Tale
By Robin DuMolin
CELEBRATIONS & TRADITIONS
 Long
ago on the winter solstice, a Scottish father and his family did a
ritual to keep them safe from the trolls and evil spirits who roamed
the earth during the late fall and early winter. The father took
glowing coals from their fire and dropped them into a basin of water.
Then each person in the family washed their hands in this water. They
believed the magic of water and fire would protect them from evil
spirits. Many people long ago believed the same as this Scottish
family. They believed the winter solstice was the most dangerous day
of the year with the sun at it's lowest point in the sky. People
worried that the sun's strength would not return. All life needed the
light and warmth of the sun. With evil spirits everywhere neighbors
had to join forces. It was a time for goodwill, forgiveness and love.
Many people believed that special rituals and ceremonies could help
the sun be reborn.
Thousands of years ago at Stonehenge and other places in the
British Isles, people placed huge stones together to frame the
setting sun on the winter solstice. As the red sun sunk slowly in the
west, the last rays glowed through the space between the stones. They
wanted to know the exact time of the sunset.
In the Scandinavian countries the sun disappeared for a long time.
After thirty-five days without light, they would send scouts to the
mountain tops to look for the sun's return. When the first gleam of
light was seen the scouts returned with the good news. The great
feast of Yuletide began. Only men sat in a long boat-shaped hall and
feasted around the fire while the Yule log burned. The main dish was
usually boar's head roasted with fruit in its mouth.
 Fire
and light were an important part of the winter solstice ceremonies.
In parts of northern Europe people lit huge bonfires to celebrate the
sun's rebirth. Some people tied apples to the branches of oaks and
firs to remind themselves that summer would come again. They placed
lighted candles on the branches too. In Britain, the Celts also put
mistletoe on their altars. Mistletoe was believed to have magical
properties, especially when plucked at the solstice since it's golden
color was believed to store the power of the sun.
In Peru, the Indians fasted for three days. On the fourth day,
everyone gathered in the public square before dawn to watch the
rising of the sun. When it appeared, shouts of joy coursed through
the square. The chief priest drank from a cup that was then passed to
others. At the sun temple a llama was sacrificed, then the rays of
the sun were focused with a mirror to make a fire. This fire was
carried to all the temples, where it was kept burning on the altars
throughout the year.
Hopi priests dressed in animal skins. Feathers in their head
dresses were meant to look like the sun's rays. Sacred buildings
called kivas let in the rays of the rising and setting sun and moon
throughout the year.
Today the Kwakiutl Indians of British Columbia change their names
at the beginning of the winter to the names of their ancestors. They
believe this will protect them from the spirits of the dead who
return this time of year.
The Roman festival of world renewal was Saturnalia, named after
the god Saturn (Greek: Kronus), who had been king of the world during
the mythic Golden Age. That was a time before agriculture, when
humanity lived in friendship with animals, without war or private
property. Saturnalia was the greatest festival in the year in
Imperial Rome, and was celebrated in December, in the days leading up
to the solstice and the New Year. The King of Saturnalia was chosen
by lot, and presided over the revels, issuing playful and ludicrous
commands to his temporary subjects. In a few districts, the mock king
ended his reign by cutting his own throat on the altar of the god
Saturn, having taken on himself the offenses of the community.
In other respects, the occasion was a uniformly happy one. People
gave presents to friends and relatives. They gave candles; coins and
small gifts were hidden in puddings. People dressed in costumes and
finery, school was suspended, feasts were held, evergreens were
brought indoors for decoration, war was delayed. People changed
places. Masters served their servants and criminals were treated with
respect. Sexual liberties were indulged. Sex became identified with
the solstice time. It was believed to promote the fertility of the
land. People wanted to insure healthy and plentiful crops. They
believed their own sexual activity would translate into abundance on
and within their lands.
THE MEANING OF THE SOLSTICE
The time of darkness is past. The winter solstice brings victory
of light... After a time of decay comes the turning point. The
powerful light that has banished returns. There is movement, but it
is not brought about by force... the movement is natural, arising
spontaneously. For this reason the transformation of old becomes
easy.
The winter solstice has always been celebrated in China as the
resting time of the year... In the winter the life energy... is still
underground. Movement is just at its beginning; therefore it must be
strengthened by rest, so that it will not be dissipated by being used
prematurely. &emdash;I Ching, the Book of Changes
Ancient peoples believed that it is dangerous and foolish to
ignore cycles. Even in the most diverse cultures, the solstice has
been equated with the idea of world renewal. At times when the cycles
of earth and sky reach their extremes, the solstices were occasions
that brought the divine masculine and feminine principles to ritual
focus. The ancient Chinese believed that at sunrise on the winter
solstice the yang (masculine) principle was born into the world and
commenced six months of ascendancy. It is more than coincidental that
Christians celebrate the birth of a divine male child at this same
time of year.
Sources: Celebrate the Solstice by Richard Heinberg and The
Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson.
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