“This is the solstice, the still point Of the sun, its cusp and midnight, The year’s threshold And unlocking, where the past Lets go of and becomes the future; The place of caught breath, the door Of a vanished house left ajar.” Margaret Atwood. Tomorrow marks the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere: the longest night or shortest day, depending on how you look at it. The Solstice is the start of astronomical Winter, a time of rest and renewal, growth and reflection. For centuries this darkest day was a time of fire and feasting, marked in the Celtic Wheel of the Year by the celebration of Yule. Many of our contemporary traditions are actually pre-Christian, originating with the Celts. For instance, the bringing indoors of festive greenery - especially mistletoe to symbolise fertility and holly to represent eternal life - acted as a poignant reminder of the fresh start the season offers.
The Winter Solstice: Celebrating Yule
The Winter Solstice: Celebrating Yule
The Winter Solstice: Celebrating Yule
“This is the solstice, the still point Of the sun, its cusp and midnight, The year’s threshold And unlocking, where the past Lets go of and becomes the future; The place of caught breath, the door Of a vanished house left ajar.” Margaret Atwood. Tomorrow marks the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere: the longest night or shortest day, depending on how you look at it. The Solstice is the start of astronomical Winter, a time of rest and renewal, growth and reflection. For centuries this darkest day was a time of fire and feasting, marked in the Celtic Wheel of the Year by the celebration of Yule. Many of our contemporary traditions are actually pre-Christian, originating with the Celts. For instance, the bringing indoors of festive greenery - especially mistletoe to symbolise fertility and holly to represent eternal life - acted as a poignant reminder of the fresh start the season offers.