(@ 9:45 – promoted by NLinStPaul)
Throughout history people have celebrated the time of the Winter Solstice. The days are getting longer and the Sun has returned.
It takes about three days from the actual Solstice for the lengthening of the days to become obvious, that’s why Mithra’s birthday is December 25th after he was killed on the solstice he returned to life three days later.
Many major religions have important holidays at this time and I want to extend my holiday greetings and wishes for peace and happiness for all.
Happy Yuletide
Merry Christmas
Happy Chanukah
Joyfull Eid
Amaterasu brings sunlight back to Earth
Happy Sanghamitta Day
And here’s a list of mid-winter holidays from around the world in case I missed anyone (from Wiki–Winter Solstice):
* 3.1 Amaterasu celebration, Requiem of the Dead (7th century Japan)
* 3.2 Beiwe Festival (Sámi of Northern Fennoscandia)
* 3.3 Choimus, Chaomos (Kalash of Pakistan)
* 3.4 Christmas, Natalis Domini (4th century Rome, 11th century England, Christian)
* 3.5 Deuorius Riuri (Gaul)
* 3.6 Deyg?n (Zoroastrian)
* 3.7 D?ngZhì Festival, T?ji Festival (East Asia, Vietnam, and Buddhist)
* 3.8 Goru (Dogon of Mali)
* 3.9 Hogmanay (Scotland)
* 3.10 Inti Raymi (Inca, Peru)
* 3.11 Junkanoo, Jonkonnu, John Canoe (West Africa, Bahamas, Jamaica, 19th-century North Carolina)
* 3.12 Karachun (Ancient Western Slavic)
* 3.13 Koleda, ??????, Sviatki, Dazh Boh (Ancient Eastern Slavic and Sarmatian)
* 3.14 Lenæa, Brumalia (Ancient and Hellenistic Greece, Roman Kingdom)
* 3.15 Lucia, Feast of St. Lucy (Ancient Swedish, Scandinavian Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox)
* 3.16 Makara Sankranti (India and Nepal, Hindu)
* 3.17 Meán Geimhridh, Celtic Midwinter (Celtic, Ancient Welsh, Neodruidic)
o 3.17.1 Wren day (Celtic, Irish, Welsh, Manx)
o 3.17.2 Alban Arthan (Neodruidic)
* 3.18 Midvinterblót (Swedish folk religion)
* 3.19 Modranicht, Modresnach (Anglo-Saxon, Germanic)
* 3.20 Perchta ritual (Germania, Alps)
* 3.21 Rozhanitsa Feast (12th century Eastern Slavic Russian)
* 3.22 Shabe Celle, ???? , Yald? (2nd millenium BCE Persian, Iranian)
* 3.23 Sanghamitta Day (Buddhist)
* 3.24 Saturnalia, Chronia (Ancient Greek, Roman Republic)
* 3.25 ?eva Zistanê (Kurdish)
* 3.26 Sol Invictus Festival (3rd century Roman Empire)
* 3.27 Soyal (Zuni and Hopi of North America)
* 3.28 Te?ufat ?ebet (Jewish)
* 3.29 Wayeb (Maya)
* 3.30 Yule, Jul, Jól, Joul, Joulu, Jõulud, Géol, Geul (Viking Age, Northern Europe)
o 3.30.1 Yule, Yulefest, Jul, Jól, Joulu (secular, Anglospherean, Northern European and Germanic cultures)
o 3.30.2 Jul (Germanic Neopaganism)
o 3.30.3 Yule (Wiccan)
* 3.31 Zagmuk, Sacaea (Ancient Mesopotamia, Sumerian, Babylonian)
* 3.32 Ziemassv?tki (Latvian, Baltic, Romuva)
Peace, Love, Joy, and Hope for All Humankind.
13 comments
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The Winter is my worst time of year. Looking forward to another glorious Spring and Summer is sometimes the only thing that gets me through.
Best Wishes for All.
Author
Happy Kwanzaa
In the City of Colours it is the Season of Dark, the Celebration of Night (dec.29-jan.6) Shai’tan (aka ‘Old Grim’)is the god governing the season.
Radiant Night to you & yours Boise Lib!
It gets cold around here as well and there is more darkness but as your own pictures show the snow covers up much that is not so pretty, the cold makes people huddle together for warmth and the darkness makes one search for light.
I will never again live where there is no winter unless Al Gore and his ilk soon give us everlasting summer with unbearable heat.
Best, Terry
I hang on to the truth that the days are getting longer. But I also know the real relief from winter around here doesn’t hit til about April/May.
the thrill of hope
a weary world rejoices
for yonder breaks
a new and glorious morn.
‘Tis the Season