Christmas, associated with the birth of Christ and the celebration of the nativity, also falls at the same time of year as pagan festivals and traditions dating before the birth of Christ.
This year Winter Solstice will occur on December 21st at 4:04 am PST. To our ancestors, the shortest day marked the lowest ebb of the year, but it also marked the day when the sun was reborn, gradually growing in strength to the Midsummer Solstice. Many ancient monuments are aligned with the winter sunrise on the 21st of December. The most famous is Newgrange in Ireland, where a finger of sunlight shines along the dark entrance through a narrow aperture above the monument’s entrance.
The Yule festival at the winter solstice was celebrated by pagan Germanic peoples and lasted for twelve days which became the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas. The origin of the word Yule originates from the Anglo Saxon word for sun and light, most likely regarding the rebirth of the sun from the shortest day. Fires or candles were kindled to burn through the twelve days that marked the festivities. Another fire tradition was that of the Yule log, lit from the remains of last years log at sunset on the 25th of December.
Many of the symbols of Christmas echo its aspect of rebirth and hope in darkness. For example, holly was thought to be important because it retains its greenery right through the winter months, and as such is a symbol of summer life in the winter starkness.
Reflecting on 2008, it has been marked by financial and political adversity and instability, but also with signs of hope for the future.
We are wishing you renewal of spirit, hope and joy during the holidays and in 2009.