Today, the Winter Solstice, is probably my favourite day of the year!
Living in the Northern Hemisphere it marks the turn of the seasons when the days begin to grow longer and the warmth of Summer is beginning its long return journey, true it’s also the real beginning of Winter, but hey you can’t have everything! I spare a thought for my friends South of the Equator for whom the opposite is true, your days will now start to shorten towards Autumn.
As I have grown older, the relevance of this turning point has grown stronger for me, I can rally attune to the Ancients who venerated the turning seasons and the Celestial Calendar. I suspect that my Celtic blood has a lot to do with this, so it won’t belong before I have to pop outside into the rain to grab the Yule Log plus Holly and Evergreen to decorate Dookes H.Q.!
It’s interesting to reflect that the origins of many common Christmas decorations such as the Yule Log and Wreath can trace back to pre-Christian times. You have to remember that though Christmas is a Christian celebration it is firmly superimposed on top of the much older Pagan Winter Festivals that predate it. Lets not forget that many other cultures and religions around the world also celebrate festivals at this time of the year and often they have light firmly as their focus.
Wreaths are traditionally made from evergreen symbolising strength and endurance as the evergreen lasts throughout even the hardest winter. The ring is also immortal, never-ending or beginning. I am pleased to report that Dookes H.Q. is currently displaying a splendid Wreath made by Mrs Dookes!
The importance of the Solstice in Neolithic times is witnessed by the many standing stone sites, such as Stonehenge, which were deliberately aligned to celebrate the Solstice. At Stonehenge the Great Trilithon stands with the it’s smooth face towards the mid-winter sunrise that rises and projects through the gap in the stones.
For people who were dependant on the passing of the seasons the Winter Solstice was of phenomenal importance. Now was the time that surplus animals were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed through the winter and there was briefly an abundance of fresh meat to enjoy at the time that the rebirth of the sun began. So why not have a festival and party to celebrate the ending of one celestial year and the beginning of a new one? Sounds good to me, but then, I am a Derwydd/Druid!
Stenness Stones Orkney
Have a brilliant Solstice everyone!
“Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.”
Dookes
Special thanks to Mark Grant for use of the Stonehenge photo.
Hogrider Dookes 
Lovely, Dookes! I too appreciate it for the lengthening of the days but I’ve never thought much beyond that. Not much of a druid, I guess!
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It think that I could teach you how to grow into it Curtis!
Thank for all the support.
Dookes
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Lovely wreath! It is very comforting seeing the days growing longer – I was looking into the Greek Christmas traditions and discovered an array of symbolisms that have been passed on from ancient Greek and Roman celebrations to modern times. In Greece we think of the Christmas tree as a little foreign and many decorate little ships instead. Looking a little deeper into it I actually discovered that in ancient Greece and Rome solstice celebrations came with kids singing from door to door for a good harvest carrying an decorated branch of olive – No holly over here I’m afraid. 😉
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Thanks for sharing that information, I love learning about all the different traditions. Isn’t it incredible how much we all share, holly, pine or olive, it really makes no difference to common root is there!
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Most welcome! 🙂 It’s really amasing finding these little links that connect us – I don’t normally share links but if you want to read more about my little findings the post is here: http://eatyourselfgreek.com/greek-christmas-food-et-al/
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Love the link and I often try out your foodie suggestions.
There’s a lot of Pork going on in your Christmas menu!
Dookes
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Yes there a lot of pork indeed – it is much more common along with the Turkey of course. I am mad for the special Christmas sweets though, melomakarona and kourabiedes! I slightly miss cranberry sauce, we don’t get these darlings here easily. Have a lovely Holiday Dookes!
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Thanks, I will certainly try!
Look out for a seasonal culinary post coming soon here and I promise, no turkey! 🙂
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Hahaha, I am looking fwd to it! Keep well
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Happy Soltice Dookes 🙂
Oh and tell Mrs. Dookes the wreath is lovely 🙂
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Thanks A and Mrs D says ta!
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Happy Solstice and Merry New Year Dookes!! Don’t tell Mrs. D about the collar stain…
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She’d only laugh at me these days!
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That wreath is SO much prettier than anything I’ve seen in stores. Gorgeous! Thanks for that and the great read.
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Thank you, that is very kind if you, Mrs Dookes is quite thrilled!
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