Winter Solstice 2011: Shortest Day Of The Year Marked By Pagan Celebrations (PHOTOS)

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• Brighton, England

  BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Starlings come home to roost on Brighton's Old Pier as the sun sets on December 21, 2011 in Brighton, England. Today marks the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Brighton, England

  BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: People watch starlings come home to roost on Brighton's Old Pier as the sun sets on December 21, 2011 in Brighton, England. Today marks the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Brighton, England

  BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: A giant lantern burns at the end of the Burning The Clocks Festival on Brighton Beach on December 21, 2011 in Brighton, England. The annual celebration is enjoyed by thousands of people who carry paper lanterns through the streets of Brighton culminating on Brighton Beach where the lanterns are burnt and the Winter Solstice is marked. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Brighton, England

  BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: People carry lanterns at the Burning The Clocks Festival on December 21, 2011 in Brighton, England. The annual celebration is enjoyed by thousands of people who carry paper lanterns through the streets of Brighton culminating on Brighton Beach where the lanterns are burnt and the Winter Solstice is marked. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

• Wiltshire, England

  WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Druids, pagans and revellers cheer as the sun rises at Stonehenge on December 22, 2011 in Wiltshire, England. The unseasonable warm weather encouraged a larger than normal crowd to gather at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

• Stonehenge, England

  STONEHENGE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Hundreds of druids and pagans celebrate the winter solstice at Stonehenge on December 22, 2009 in Wiltshire, England. Hundreds of people gathered at the famous stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

• Stonehenge, England

  SALISBURY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Druids conduct a sunrise service at Stonehenge on December 22, 2010 in Wiltshire, England. Hundreds of people gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

• Stonehenge, England

  SALISBURY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Revellers dance in the snow after druids conducted a sunrise service at Stonehenge on December 22, 2010 in Wiltshire, England. Hundreds of people gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

• Stonehenge, England

  SALISBURY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Druids conduct a sunrise service at Stonehenge on December 22, 2010 in Wiltshire, England. Hundreds of people gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

• Stonehenge, England

  STONEHENGE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Druid Arthur Uther Pendragon, formally known as John Rothwell, conducts a service at Stonehenge on December 22, 2009 in Wiltshire, England. Hundreds of people gathered at the famous stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

• Stonehenge, England

  WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: A woman touches the stones at Stonehenge on December 21, 2008 in Wiltshire, England. Hundreds of people gathered at the famous stone circle to watch the sun rise on Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

• Stonehenge, England

  SALISBURY, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 22: A girl rests between stones as a man plays the didgeridoo at Stonehenge on December 22, 2006 in Salisbury, England. Hundreds of people attended the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge, the cause for a pagan celebration, held on the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

• Stonehenge, England

  SALISBURY, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 22: A Solstice participant makes his way from Stonehenge on December 22, 2006 in Salisbury, England. Hundreds of people attended the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge, the cause for a pagan celebration, held on the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

• Xian, China

  XIAN, CHINA - DECEMBER 22: (CHINA OUT) A woman dressed in traditional costume of Han nationality, offers food as scarifies to Heaven, during a heaven-worship ceremony to mark the winter solstice festival which falls today, at the Xian Museum on December 22, 2007 in Xian of Shaanxi Province, China. The Winter Solstice became a festival during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). The Northern hemisphere on this day experiences the shortest daytime and longest nighttime. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

• Sofia, Bulgaria

  Sofia, BULGARIA: Bulgarian dancers from the town of Yambol perform an old pagan traditional dance named Koleduvane, in central Sofia, 20 December 2005. Koleduvane is an important ancient pagan festival which coincides with the Winter Solstice in December, and celebrates the birth of the Sun. The Christian religion has tied it to the festival for the birth of Christ. Thus, usually.Koleduvane is performed at Christmas eve to wish health, good luck and fertility to the heads of households, to their houses, livestock and land. (Valentina Petrova/AFP/Getty Images)

• Stockholm, Sweden

  Stockholm, SWEDEN: Julia Phan, 11, stands still while Rose-Marie von Braun (L), and Anne-Marie Soderqvist (R) light candles on her crown of Lucia Queen of Lights and other girls dressed as her maidens stand in the background at the Johannes School in Stockholm 13 December 2005. In the darkest time of the year, near the winter solstice, Swedish tradition bids young girls to act Lucia and her maidens, waiting upon people on their bedside, offering them buns and coffee. Boys dress up like Santa Claus or Saint Staffan. Lucia originally was a Sicilian saint who had sufffered martyrdom. (Jack Mikrut/AFP/Getty Images)

• San Andres, El Salvador

  Mayan priests make offerings during an indigenous ceremony commemorating the winter solstice at the ceremonial center of San Andres, in San Andres, El Salvador, Sunday Dec 18. 2011. The winter solstice falls on Thursday Dec. 22. (AP Photo/Luis Romero)

• San Andres, El Salvador

  A Mayan priest leads people in an indigenous ceremony to commemorate the winter solstice at the ceremonial center of San Andres, in San Andres, El Salvador, Sunday Dec 18. 2011. The winter solstice falls on Thursday Dec. 22. (AP Photo/Luis Romero)

• Shaoxing, China

  n a picture taken on November 8, 2011, Chinese workers start the annual Shaoxing wine-making for the lunar calendar winter solstice at a Shaoxing winery, in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang province. Shaoxing wine is one of the most famous varieties of Huangjiu, or traditional Chinese fermented rice wine, and been in production since the imperial days, and large quantities are stored in the classic Shaoxing wine containers over long periods of time. Shaoxing wines are now exported and sold as vintage wines in may countries. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

• Minsk, Belarus

  People enjoy a sleigh ride as they celebrate the Christmas carol rite (Koliady) in the village of Pogost, some 250 km south-east of Minsk, on January 7, 2011. Koliady is an ancient pagan holiday initially celebrated on winter solstice but since appropriated to celebrate Christmas, New Year according to the Julian calendar, and other winter holidays. (Viktor Drachev/AFP/Getty Images)

• Edinburgh, Scotland

  The New Years Eve celebration of Scotland is called Hogmanay. Photo: Torchlight procession on Calton Hill, Edinburgh

In 2011, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will occur on Dec. 22, 2011 at 12:30 a.m. EST. In North America, time zones that are west of the EST will experience the winter solstice on Dec 21st. To calculate the turning point in your time zone, click here. Officially the first day of winter, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. This is the longest night of the year, meaning that despite the cold winter, the days get progressively longer after the winter solstice until the summer solstice in 2012.

The winter solstice is celebrated by many people around the world as the beginning of the return of the sun, and darkness turning into light. The Talmud recognizes the winter solstice as "Tekufat Tevet." In China, the "Dongzhi" Festival is celebrated on the Winter Solstice by families getting together and eating special festive food.

Until the 16th century, the winter months were a time of famine in northern Europe. Most cattle were slaughtered so that they wouldn't have to be fed during the winter, making the solstice a time when fresh meat was plentiful. Most celebrations of the winter solstice in Europe involved merriment and feasting. In pre-Christian Scandinavia, the Feast of Juul, or Yule, lasted for 12 days celebrating the rebirth of the sun god and giving rise to the custom of burning a Yule log.

In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, to honor Saturn, the god of agricultural bounty. Lasting about a week, Saturnalia was characterized by feasting, debauchery and gift-giving. With Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity, many of these customs were later absorbed into Christmas celebrations.

One of the most famous celebrations of the winter solstice in the world today takes place in the ancient ruins of Stonehenge, England. Thousands of druids and pagans gather there to chant, dance and sing while waiting to see the spectacular sunrise.

Comments

[CarmanC]

05:01 PM on 01/14/2012

There is nothing pagan about any solstice or equinox. These times many be marked by non Christains - in times past there was no method by which to measure the day being the shortest and the days getting longer. The celebrations were held on the first full moon after daylight/time was determined to be growing longer. This timing also led to the Roman Church and now others using the same method for Easter.


Easter -

the Sunday

following

the first full moon

following

the spring equinox.

[LightBeam]

02:28 AM on 01/02/2012

There's quite an awakening going on. It's a wonderful sight to behold.

[thorrsman]

10:50 PM on 12/31/2011

And now we come to the twelth night of the Yule. The feast has been eaten, strips of grilled beef, cubes of cheese, fresh bread and red grapes. Little more than three hours remain. At midnight, the Yule wreath will be set ablaze, our vows accending to the Gods with the smoke. We will remain watching until the last glowing ember blinks out and darkness again reclaims the first few minutes of the New Year.

[Pale Writer]

11:01 PM on 12/31/2011

I wish you every good and noble thing in the New Year, thorrsman...may it be so for us all...blessings...pw

[Lady Saera]

04:41 AM on 01/04/2012

Thanks for sharing, your traditions and customs, very interesting.

[thorrsman]

09:53 AM on 12/29/2011

For the eighth day of the Yule, we think long and hard on our vows for the coming year. On the nineth day, I write those vows in red runes on strips of parchment. On the tenth day of the Yule, my wife makes our Yule wreath, weaving those strips into the wreath.

[thorrsman]

12:29 PM on 12/26/2011

The sixth day of the Yule has past, a quiet one. We rest and enjoy. We open gifts, small things to each other that were selected with deep thought.
The seventh day dawns. While keeping the meaning of the Yule with us, we clean and straighten the house. We shop in preparation for the Twelth Day, and more importantly, the Twelth Night. The Great Feast, though it will be only among immediate family, is the most important of the year.

[Ronju01]

07:31 AM on 12/26/2011

In the late 4th century, in early 380 AD, Pope Damasus I was endeavoring to force all
Christians in the Roman Empire to yield to his authority. He got the Emperor to issue an
edict requiring them to practice the religion of Rome. We know that it is about this time
the Christmas midnight Mass was first celebrated and December 25th first identified as a
Catholic holy day. It is said Damasus was seeking to lure the people away from pagan
rites honoring the birth of the sun god at midnight by compelling Catholic attendance at a
memorial in honor of Christ's death, ie the Mass. The people confused this Mass with the
pagan solar birth rituals conducted at that same time. Gradually, the Christ-Mass became
associated with the Nativity.

[iLdoRight]

04:31 AM on 12/26/2011

On average, an equal amount of light from the Sun hits the Earth every day and every hour of every day except on Nonday, that fictitious day that doesn't happen every 1100 years give or take 1100 years as Nonday hasn't been discovered or invented yet by a highly, scientifically advanced Atheist. So if you remember that old song, "Standin' In The Heed Of Prayer" and you are one of those who enjoys the largest known hobby in the U.S. and perhaps the world, that is, hobby song writing, here are a couple of song titles you might consider working on, "Standin'In The Crazy Zone", "Standin" In The Dark Spot", "Standin' Where The Sun Shines The Brightest On December 22" Sometimes I feel so unnecessary.

[Noble9]

10:16 PM on 12/25/2011

Yule celebrations put aside to deal with death in family. Ended up lighting a sparkler in the rain and toasting the return of the sun with mead. Somber but full of hope.

[Earthling1125]

10:59 AM on 12/28/2011

My condolences. Glad to hear the spirit of Yule remained in your heart - as did the hope.

Blessings.

[TYRANNASAURUS]

04:57 PM on 12/25/2011

Winter Solstice 2011: Shortest Day Of The Year Marked By Pagans.....

It's my favorite day only because it means the sun is heading north again and I love the sun and summer.....the rest of the holidays in the year can be dumped.

[thorrsman]

11:47 PM on 12/24/2011

We near the end of the fifth day of the Yule. The remnants of the feast have been cleared away, a good-bye has been bidden to all the guests, along with a wish for a safe journey home. We can, at last, relax, content in the knowledge that we have done our duty as hosts, and enjoy the quiet after parents, brothers and sister, nieces and nephews have gone. A good day, a fulfilling day, and time now for some peace before bed.

[Jahnabi Barooah]

08:32 PM on 12/25/2011

I love your daily comments on your observance of Yule.

[thorrsman]

07:10 PM on 12/23/2011

The 4th day of the Yule: The Yule ham is baked and soon will be sliced and sit in a sweet sauce of amaretto, brown sugar and other ingredients until the feast tomorrow. The yams are boiling, the spetzli is cooked and cooling, the pies are in the fridge, all ready for the gathering of family and the feast. Tonight, hower, it is just my wife, myself and our son, for a quiet, restful family evening together. A simple meal and family, the wonder of the Yule and anticipation for tomorrow's gathering.

[LintLass]

01:17 AM on 12/23/2011

You know, Christians love to blame 'Paganism' for what they do to their own holidays and try to blame Pagans for their own frenzied commercialism, but again, coming back from my own community Solstice gathering, ... we came, we gathered, we shared, feasted, (Possibly more modestly than some will tell) and a few nice drinks, and we sing our songs, have our wassail, observe the turnign year, and meanwhile various brands of Chrsitians are going buggy on us claiming their own behavior is somehow ....On us.

Even if they voted for that form of economy. :)

[Jahnabi Barooah]

01:27 AM on 12/23/2011

Curious to learn more about your traditions and customs if you're willing to share. Thanks!

[LintLass]

01:44 AM on 12/23/2011

Already have, my ancestors did, believe it or not. :) Certain imperialist monotheists are getting a little bent out of shape as the people remember why their 'book-god': brand A B or C, greed and dominion and monomaniacal 'God' are *not* about any of our souls, never mind the world's, never mind all the universes'. :)

This is a time when monotheists argue about dead things and claim that brings 'life' ....By some authority.

Don't believe them about that, and don't bet your bippy on them understanding Pagans, ancient or modern.

They can't see or tell the truth about most people right to our faces. They'd rather shoot you than hear you cause they are made *that* scared.

Of each other. And ...my people. Themselves. Their own ancestors, their own culture..... even. Sad.

[onnozol]

02:27 AM on 12/23/2011

Indeed. Don't complain when another person walks through the door you've left open.

[Rus Viking]

12:54 AM on 12/23/2011

"Koliady is an ancient pagan holiday initially celebrated on winter solstice but since appropriated to celebrate Christmas, New Year according to the Julian calendar, and other winter holidays."

Really?

[MichaelGuy]

10:13 PM on 12/22/2011

Thank you Freemasons for giving us freedom of religion and conscience, In Cinstanines empire one had to be Orthodox/Catholic. In the Midle East one has to be Muslim. In Jacobin France and Bolshevik Russia one was forced to be an atheist9 Ditto for many professors in America today)
But our American ideal of freedom of or from religion is a Masonic ideal, found in very few nations or in eras of history. If you are going to a soltice gathering mass church msque,synagogue or choose not to worship a deity because you think none exist, thank the Masons and George Mason's Anti-federalist for giving us the First Amendment. Merry Chrismas

[LintLass]

01:03 AM on 12/23/2011

Interestingly, if you wonder where the American Religious Right came from, look up 'Anti-Masonic Party.' Might seem familiar.

[aFtersootdamP]

07:36 PM on 12/22/2011

It's humorous to read all these polite posts. Too bad Christians don't get the same treatment.

[ragdolly]

07:49 PM on 12/22/2011

Isn't that the point? Jesus tells us to separate ourselves from the world, to turn the other cheek.

[Jahnabi Barooah]

08:28 PM on 12/22/2011

Does Jesus really tell Christians to separate themselves from the world? Where do you derive this message from?

[LintLass]

01:04 AM on 12/23/2011

This actually relates to all the cultures in the world that celebrate Solstice without being all whiny Religious Right Christian? :) Somehow?

[Jahnabi Barooah]

02:11 AM on 12/23/2011

No, not necessarily. I mean, you're right in the sense that almost all cultures in the world celebrate (or celebrated) the solstice in one way or the other. However, that doesn't mean that they still do. The fact that the modern celebration of Christmas is rooted in the celebration of the Solstice doesn't mean that people celebrate the Solstice when they think that they're celebrating Christmas. Do you get what I mean? I think that would be unfair to say.