Tomorrow is Dec. 21,
the official winter solstice-the shortest day of the year, as well as the
longest night. This is the “reason for the season.” Among the
Germanic people this was “Yule time,” while the Romans celebrated Saturnalia.
Many of our Christmas customs date back to these cultures. Saturnalia
decorations included greenery and decorating trees outdoors with ornaments that
pertained to the sun and stars.
Below are various
ways to mark this occasion:
• Have a bonfire
• Arise before dawn,
bundle up, and welcome the sun. Check local astronomical charts for the exact
time. Depending on where you live there may be an ancient astrological site
where you can go to observe first light.
• Prepare favorite
foods and add a sun image
• Create an outside
solstice tree, which includes food for the animals, such as:
-
suet
-
a
pine cone, apple half, or carrot dipped in peanut butter and smeared with bird
seed
-
carve
out an orange half and fill with bird seed
-
popcorn
and cranberry garlands
-
top with
a sun or star ornament
• Make ice lanterns:
Fill a small
plastic cup with stones or weights and put inside a larger plastic container.
Fill large plastic container with water. Add evergreen sprigs and/or berries to
water to add some color and texture. Carefully put inside a freezer (or outside
if temperatures are below freezing.) Allow it to freeze for several hours or
overnight. Run warm water over outside of large plastic container to un mold
lantern. Remove stones from smaller cup and pour in warm water, making it
easier to remove the cup. Insert candle.
• Spend the evening
by candle light
• Have a solstice
party
• Burn a Yule
log-Traditionally a log would be burned the night of the winter solstice in
order to bring light to the darkest night of the year. A piece of the Yule log
is saved for the following year. Don’t have a place to burn a Yule log? No
worries, there is an on-line video you can use
• String lights
around your house
• Learn more at
Winter solstice: The Feast of Juul, Thor and Why Pagans Celebrate the Shortest Day of the Year
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