June85 | Handle With Care

Winter Solstice, What Does It All Mean?

rocketboom:

A diagram of the sun’s path over the U.S. during the winter solstice (via).

Feel SAD lately due to the long nights and short days during these cold months? A lot of people do, but things are about to turn around. Tonight! The winter solstice occurs in the northern hemisphere this Thursday, December 22. Meanwhile, south of the equator, let the summer solstice begin!

The winter solstice marks the first official day of winter with longest night and shortest day of the year. In NYC, the sun will rise at 7:17AM and set again at 4:32PM for a grand total of 9 hours and 15 minutes of sunshine. In other words, the sun won’t be up for roughly 2/3 of the most depressing day of the year.

The winter solstice is not all doom and gloom, many cultures around the world take the opportunity to celebrate. Here are a few interesting examples.

• Wiccans know the winter solstice as “Yule,” and observe it as one of the “lesser sabbats” of the Wiccan calendar.
• In Ancient Rome the winter solstice festival, Saturnalia, was held to honor Saturn, the father of the gods and was characterized by the suspension of discipline and usual order. Grudges and quarrels were forgotten. Businesses, courts and schools were closed. Wars were interrupted or postponed and slaves were served by their masters. The Saturnalia eventually degenerated into a week-long spree of debauchery and crime – giving rise to the modern use of the term saturnalia, a period of unrestrained license and revelry (think Burning Man but in Rome)
• In ancient Poland the winter solstice was observed by showing forgiveness and through sharing food. It’s a tradition that can still be seen in what is known as Gody. Do you know the feel?
• In the northwestern corner of Pakistan, The Chaomos Festival takes place among the Kalasha or Kalash Kafir people involving ritual baths as part of a purification process including singing and chanting, a torchlight procession, dancing, bonfires and festive eating… (think Burning Man, but this time in Pakistan)
• In Guatemala, Mayan Indians used the solstice to honor the sun god they worshipped long before they became Christians with a dangerous ritual known as the polo voladore, or “flying pole dance.” (Unrelated to the ritual of the same name on display nightly at the Spearmint Rhino) In the flying pole dance, three men climb  a 50-foot pole: one of them beats a drum and plays a flute while the other two wind a rope around their foot, jump and then try to land on their feet. If they do land on their feet, they believe that the sun god will be pleased and that the days will start getting longer again. This would happen anyway, but, you know, traditions are important!
• The ancient Incas engaged in a special festival to honor the sun god at the time of the winter solstice. They probably sacrificed animals, little children and stuff, but they did that alot so nothing special.
• In Britain, the prison system is required by law to recognize the winter solstice as one of 8 yearly pagan festivals. I.e. pretty typical day, but worth noting.
• It’s likely most Americans will celebrate the coming winter solstice by having a normal Thursday, going to bed early, and resentfully get up and go to work again on Friday.