What is the meaning of the winter solstice in life and spirituality?
The winter solstice is upon us, and with it, the longest night of the year.As the sunlight wanes in the Northern Hemisphere, warmth must be made, and self-reflection sought.
Solstices signify how life on Earth changes in connection to the Sun and how our seasons are defined and define us.When a solstice occurs, the Sun reaches its absolute highest or lowest point relative to our celestial equator.
The winter solstice, as the name implies, marks the beginning of winter and the point of the year when the sun reaches its lowest point, directly above the Tropic of Capricorn.Solstice is a marriage of the Latin words for “sun” and “to stand still.” The winter solstice equates to the shortest day and longest night of the year.Winter’s sunburned, popsicle-stained sister, the summer solstice, celebrated on or around June 21st, coincides with the longest day and shortest night of the year.During the winter solstice, the Sun appears to stand still at the southernmost point of the equator.From this point on, that showboating death star begins its journey north again.
As we move deeper into this season, daylight will gradually increase as the sun pulls us towards spring.Myriad cultures and spiritual traditions have long honored the winter solstice.This time of greatest darkness has encouraged humanity to gather together to celebrate the rebirth of, and return to, the light.
The winter solstice coincides with several pagan, pre-Christmas holidays and traditions, including but not limited to Germanic Yule, Punjabi Lohri, and Roman Saturnalia.A prehistoric megalithic structure, Stonehenge, was built to align with the sun on the solstices.
On the winter solstice, the sun sets to the south-west of the stone circle.For inquiring minds, the pagan Yule of Yore was considerably less cheery and 100% more goth than the Christmas we know and decorate today.For the people of the past, Yule was the time of the year to lock your doors and light your hearth lest you step outs...