Winter Solstice

Decemeber 23, 2021 - This year Winter Solstice takes place on December 21, and marks the shortest day of the year for us here in the Northern Hemisphere as well as the start of winter. The solstice is the moment when the Earth’s poles are at their maximum tilt. When the winter solstice occurs, the sun travels its shortest path through the sky. As a result, the hemisphere tilted away from the sun experiences the cooler temperatures of winter, while the hemisphere tilted towards the sun experiences the warmer summer temperatures.

All around the world the winter solstice has inspired rituals and celebrations throughout history. Here are a few examples of how the Winter Solstice is celebrated in other parts of the world:

• In Scandinavia they celebrate Saint Lucia Day on December 13. This celebration marks the start of the Christmas season with a procession of young women in white robes, red sashes, and wreaths of candles on their heads to symbolize lighting the way through the darkness of winter.

• The ancient Persian festival of Shab-e Yalda in Iran also celebrates the end of shorter days and the victory of light over darkness. Yalda, which means “birth,” is celebrated with family gatherings, candles, poetry readings, and a feast. Ancient legend says that eating the fruits of summer will protect you from illness in winter. 

• At Stonehenge in England people will celebrate by gathering before dawn after the longest night to watch the sunrise through one of the stones. It also serves as a global monument for the summer solstice as well.

• In China Dongzhi is celebrated on either December 21, 22 or 23, with family gatherings and a big meal, including rice balls called tang yuan. This festival has occurred for thousands of years and is the marking of the end of the harvest season. It also has roots in the Chinese concept of yin and yang, as we head toward a balance between the dark and the light.

• Vancouver, Canada is preparing for its 28th annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival. Created by Vancouver’s Secret Lantern Society, the festival is celebrated with lantern creation workshops and culminates in a procession through the city followed by fire performances. There is also a maze of 600 candles called the Labyrinth of Light, which encourages the letting go of old thoughts, and finding new possibilities for the coming year.

If you are looking to learn more about the winter solstice and its celebrations, click here for items available at the Library.