prairie point

winter solstice

Tricia and I went last night to a Winter Solsticelebration. There was music and poetry, Buddhist chanting, and an "Egyptian fire dance," among other things. We participated in a ceremony of extinguishing and bringing back the light.

The winter solstice (which is really December 22 this year) is the shortest day of the year. After the solstice the days steadily lengthen and the nights get shorter until the summer solstice arrives.

This is the eleventh annual celebration put on by this group, although it is the first one we've attended. We were even surprised to run into some friends that we had not expected to see there. I think they were equally surpised to see us.

It was a great reminder of what the holiday season is really all about. These events have been observed by humankind for thousands of years. Whatever the purpose of Stonehenge, it is aligned perfectly with the Summer and Winter solstices.

The ancient Egyptians had a twelve-day celebration at this time of the year and the Romans had their Saturnalia. The Emperor Constantine moved the celebration of Christmas to December 25, some say to blur the distinction between different faiths by having multiple religious holidays at the same time.

I've always had a hard time reconciling the religious aspect of Christmas with the way the holiday is actually celebrated. When I think of it as a winter solstice celebration it all makes sense.

Posted by Bill Hopkins on December 20, 2003 09:21 AM