The Winter Solstice falls on the 21st of December. What makes this a custom you can work into your pagan traditions? Evergreens which resist the change other plants acquire in the presence of giamos, or winter, energy seems magical and bespeaks of the immortality against winter that is the hope of the season. He was afraid that the world was returning to the chaos and emptiness that existed before creation, so he fasted. A webcam has been installed that will broadcast live images for those that cannot make the journey there themselves.In a way, this serves a purpose not completely divorced from the original intentions. The Winter Solstice falls on the shortest day of the year (21st December) and was celebrated in Britain long before the arrival of Christianity. In the later Roman Empire his birthday was celebrated on December 25. Some areas, like Co. Even better, procure them over time, and wrap them in a formal way.Shopkeepers would dispense gifts, folks would tote gifts in for their relatives in the towns or visiting the markets themselves. You name it, we drink it.While “Yule Logs” aren’t celtic, and are a germanic borrowing at best, still a special log or bogdeal, called the bloc na Nollag, literally meaning the Christmas Block or December Block was added to the fire on Christmas Eve. Here in the presence of dying vegetation, evergreens are seen as magic.In Munster, a small cross was made from tying holly to wood in the shape of a cross. I know several people who pitch in to buy all kinds of farm animals together this way. Others, like me, believe that these traditions are a continuation of the Samhain and Martinmas season, take the joyful creepiness of the Welsh Mari Lwyd as a prime example of this vibrant energy. What is common in most solstice tradition is that this time of year is about coming together and remembering the past. Except for Church, folks stayed in. The wrenboys usually had a Hobby Horse, or Láir Bhán, which means White Mare. Cold weather was a favorable omen because it meant a light spring a lack of sickness. This precise alignment allows the light at the darkest point of the year to illuminate this spectacular house of the dead. The Winter Solstice marked the rebirth of the sun after the shortest day, yes, and it falls between two major fire festivals Samhain (sow-een) or Halloween and Imbolc (St. Brigid’s Day – February 1st the day our ancestors celebrated the first day of Spring :). In Scotland, before the arrival of Christianity, on the solstice, Celtic priests would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.Also, send me the Pagan Newsletter and special offers. There are several versions of the wren charm that would be spoken door to door, I’ve presented my favorite one below:This charm was seen to bestow the house with blessings and the first group to bestow it would be compensated for it, moreso than wrenboy groups arriving later (248). This is a time to be honored, as it was it will be forever so.The battle between Light and Darkness is in full swing, be it Alexei Kondratiev, an early Celtic Reconstructionist, scholar, and pretty much latter day Druid, holds fast to a The ritual theme that seems to fit best is one of cultural continuity rather than suffering the loss of the holiday. The Winter Solstice at Newgrange. These would be held any time within the ten days around Christmas. One of the centres for this pre Christian worship this solstice will be at Callanish on the Isle of Lewis. We color within the lines here.The Christmas dinner was of the most focus and the largest of the year (Danaher 241). At Winter solstice, the universal theme is the increase and acceleration toward darkness and the loss of light. PM me for my address ;), I accept all forms of hog meat too.Holiday soup kitchens are easy to find and join. A dish of water was left on the window sill to be blessed by the ‘Travelers’ and used for healing purposes later.In west Limerick, the doors were left completely open, candles were lit in every single window. Oaks were seen as sacred and the winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months. Precisely the act of saying Folk Charms while doing the work, similar to how plowboys sing plow songs in spring.The children collected evergreens, holly, and ivy and brought them home on christmas eve in order to make decorations. Instead of drawing for a winner, the winner would be chosen by a series of games of cards over several days.Drinking around card games in the winter tending fires build friendship, bonds, camaraderie and more. The gods of Part of this theme is expressed in both the customs Ancient sacrifices and blood letting echo into the present with the The Scottish cognate to the Irish Oengus Mac Ind’Oc lends to our associations.

It was built at around the same time and its architecture clearly links it to the solstice tradition. In the northern hemisphere, this date marks the turning point of the season, the shortest day and the longest night. Nowadays at this time of year it is normal that people’s attention turns to celebrating Christmas, however, the ritual and history surrounding the solstice in this country and all over Europe, predate the arrival of Christianity by thousands of years and many festive celebrations have been adapted from much earlier traditions.The ancient people of northern Europe were hunter gatherers, many of whom worshipped the sun.

In some areas of Scotland the log would be called the Cailleach na Nollag, potentially burning away An Cailleach’s power over the year (Kondratiev 134). In some areas, a wren was tied to a string and kept alive.

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