The winter solstice marks the beginning of winter and the longest night. It is a time when the sun is at its lowest in the sky, so days become shorter and nights correspondingly longer. In days gone by, it was considered by many societies as a time of celebration and feasting. In temperate climates the winter solstice was the last opportunity to gather together and have fun before the austerity of the winter months set in. Animals would be slaughtered, so they would not have to be fed during winter and this provided a rare opportunity to eat fresh meat. The majority of wine and beer was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time, so there were plenty of provisions during the celebrations.
Ancient civilisations, as long as 3000 years ago, recognized the significance of the winter solstice i.e. the primary axes of Stonehenge in UK and Newgrange in Ireland were built to capture the rays of the winter solstice during sunrise and sunset.
Various cultural mythologies and traditions have arisen around this time and are still practiced i.e. Christmas day co-incides with the Roman winter solstice, where good deeds and gift giving is commonly expected. The most widespread Scottish custom is the practice of ‘first footing’, which starts immediately after midnight on the first day of the New Year. Tradition requires that the first person (usually tall and dark haired) to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour’s house, bring with them a gift such as salt (less common today), coal, shortbread or whisky and black bun (a fruit pudding). This is intended as a symbol of good luck for the householder in the New Year.
Another ceremony performed by the Inca priests was the tying of the sun. In Machu Picchu there is still a large column of stone called an ‘Intihuatana’, meaning ‘hitching post of the sun’. The ceremony to ‘tie the sun’ to the stone was to prevent the sun from escaping.
According to Iranian mythology, Mithra was born at the end of this night after the long-expected defeat of darkness against light. ‘Shab-e Chelleh’ is now an important social occasion, when family and friends get together for fun and merriment. Different kinds of dried fruits, nuts, seeds and fresh winter fruits are consumed. This is reminiscence of the ancient feasts, where they prayed to the deities to ensure the protection of the winter crops.
Nowadays, most people, or certainly those in the Western hemisphere, treat December as a time to wind down from their hectic pace of work and focus instead on festive celebrations. They take this opportunity to spend time with their family and friends in very sociable gatherings. In ancient times the months that followed the winter solstice brought fear and frequently starvation. Therefore, their celebrations prior to the onset of winter were considered a last chance to celebrate their lives in case they did not survive the harsh winter.
Although few people in the modern Western world have such fears, December has become known as a period of over indulgence and excess, before January and February herald in a more frugal period. It is also an important time of retrospection, where we consider the past year, how we have faired in business and relationships and where we are going with our lives. The media as well as social pressures often cause us to have great expectations in December. These are, by their nature, frequently unrealistic and usually lead to disappointment and feelings of failure and remorse. Hence the New Year can bring with it huge disillusionment in terms of relationships and personal satisfaction.
January has not surprisingly become known as the ‘sad’ month. There is a general perception that there are no more celebrations, we have spent all our money and there is nothing to look forward to except cold weather and dark days. We didn’t meet the love of our life or worse still we broke up with them! This can be quite a challenge for those who are not naturally optimistic or have nothing else to focus on i.e. the unemployed or those with no family or friends for support. For such people, a coach or therapist is very beneficial. They help us to refocus our attention and recharge our batteries, so that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
On the other hand the first month of the New Year is a time for reining in not only our wallets, but also our girth. Healthy resolutions and a more balanced diet are the order of the day and magazines are full of suggestions for a new and improved you. This may all be symbolic, but it still reflects the original sentiments of the ancients at this time of year, where there was traditionally less to eat and a general lack of resources. Those of a more cynical nature have long ceased to pay serious attention to these seasonal practices, though they can’t fail to be drawn in by the global talk of change and the unmistakable feel of the New Year.
As long as we recognize the purpose behind this time of the year and take it as part of the natural rhythm of life, we can accept its ebbs and flows. It is pointless trying to resist or even resent it. Attempting to work hard when everyone else is slowing down is frankly non productive and usually ineffective. Take some time off, slow down and celebrate with the others. Take stock of what you have achieved and where you have been going all year. Give yourself space to let your thoughts and dreams percolate into something fresh and new for the coming season. We were all born to grow and to change. Let the New Year bring in those changes. Be courageous, think out of the box and turn yourself into something new and exciting in 2011.
Janet Deeb
Picture & information courtesy of Wikipedia
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