A Solstice of Fire and Light by Angela R. Watts

The ashes were then collected and either strewn on the fields as fertilizer every night until Twelfth Night or kept as a charm and or as medicine.įrench peasants believed that if the ashes were kept under the bed, they would protect the house against thunder and lightning. In England, Germany, France, and other European countries, the Yule log was burned until nothing, but ash remained. A Yule or Juul log was brought in and burned on the hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god Thor.Ī piece of the log was kept as both a token of good luck and as kindling for the following year’s log. Fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning sun. The Feast of Juul was a pre-Christian festival observed in Scandinavia at the time of the December solstice. The Lesser Sabbats fall on the solstices and equinoxes.Ĭhristmas decorations include lights and stars. This took place annually around the time of the December solstice and lasted for 12 days. Yule is also known as Alban Arthan and was one of the “Lesser Sabbats” of the Wiccan year in a time when ancient believers celebrated the rebirth of the Sun God and days with more light. Seven weird and wonderful Christmas traditionsĬhristmas is also referred to as Yule, which is derived from the Norse word jól, referring to the pre-Christian winter solstice festival. Some believe that celebrating the birth of the “true light of the world” was set in synchronization with the December solstice because from that point onwards the days began to have more daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. However, it's believed that this date was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti.

In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, which falls on December 25. Celebrations of the lighter days to come and nature’s continuing cycle have been common throughout cultures and history with feasts, festivals and holidays around the December solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, the December solstice is the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year.Īlthough winter is the season of dormancy, darkness and cold, the December solstice marks the 'turning of the Sun' and the days slowly get longer.

Business Date to Date (exclude holidays)ĭusk in Lapland around the time of the winter solstice in December.

A Solstice of Fire and Light by Angela R. Watts