21-12-2017, 09:23 AM
6
Re: Winter Solstice
Yes indeed, the Winter Solstice is today, occurring at 16.28 pip emma GMT all over Northern Hemisphere. The long nights and dark days will be banished, and after that we can look forward to Spring and the Return of the Light.Using the most advanced technology available at the time, (half burying a 20 tonne rock in the ground and tracking the sun's shadow), our ancestors concluded that the sun's orbit in the sky stood still for twelve days.
This was a time when they cut mistletoe and holly, (which is where the winter song, Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly came from) and put it around the home or gave to friends and family.
A time to put candles and lanterns in trees to ward off evil, even bringing trees indoors and decorating them with lights.
A time when there wasn't enough fodder to keep all their animals through Winter, so there would be feasting to use up what wouldn't keep.
A time to be with family and friends, and to celebrate the feast of Yule during the Twelve Days of Solstice.
Wassail carols would be sung as people would travel from house to house in the village bringing good wishes in return for a small gratuity.
Any similarities between this and any other winter celebration is purely coincidental.
Today is an important day in the Pagan and Wiccan calendars.
My favourite lines from the Wiccan Rede.
Merry meet and merry part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Happy Yule everybody.
Other belief systems are available, and whatever they are, enjoy yourselves during this ancient festive season.
21-12-2017, 01:05 PM
9
Re: Winter Solstice
Originally Posted by Fruitcake
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Yes indeed, the Winter Solstice is today, occurring at 16.28 pip emma GMT all over Northern Hemisphere. The long nights and dark days will be banished, and after that we can look forward to Spring and the Return of the Light.Using the most advanced technology available at the time, (half burying a 20 tonne rock in the ground and tracking the sun's shadow), our ancestors concluded that the sun's orbit in the sky stood still for twelve days.
Happy Yule everybody.
Other belief systems are available, and whatever they are, enjoy yourselves during this ancient festive season.
I noticed that in March the Suns arrival is earlier by a massive sixteen minutes a week, before it slows down again in May and June. The end of September and the beginning of October we again see major changes of thirteen minutes per week until it finally slows down during November and December to start all over again......You have sparked my imagination Fruitcake and I can feel a graph coming on.....
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