The time around December 22 is a very important day for our planet and its relationship with the sun. December 22 is the summer solstice, marking the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and the winter solstice, marking the beginning of winter, in the Northern Hemisphere.
Ironically, from the 22 December in the Northern Hemisphere the days grow longer, and in the Southern Hemisphere the days grow shorter. On June 21 the solstices are reversed and summer begins in the northern hemisphere
The term solstice means, “sun stands still.” On the winter and summer solstices the sun appears, from our earth viewpoint, to halt in its journey across the sky and stop for a moment, having reached it’s northernmost or southernmost extreme. It then starts its journey back again.
The tilt of the axis is 23.5 degrees, and thanks to this tilt, we enjoy the four seasons. For several months of the year, one-half of the earth receives more direct rays of the sun than the other half.
The earth’s axis always points to the same point in the universe. When the axis points away from the sun from December to March (because of the relative location of the earth to the sun), the southern hemisphere enjoys the direct rays of the sun during their summer months. Alternatively, when the axis tilts towards the sun, as it does between June and September, it is summer in the northern hemisphere but winter in the southern hemisphere.
Our ancient ancestors for millennia have known this annual pilgrimage by the Earth. Being close to the seasons, they celebrated the time of the solstice as a celebration of rebirth of sunlight after the darkest period of the year.
There is no agreement about the exact origins of Christmas. In the early history of the Christian church, the calendar was built around Easter and re-birth, and nobody knows exactly where and when Christ’s birth was celebrated. The new celebration soon mingled with pagan ways of celebrating the lengthening of days following the winter solstice. The Roman feast of Saturnalia, honoring the God of sowing, Saturn, was a weeklong December feast that included the observance of the winter solstice. The poet Catullus describes Saturnalia as the best of days. It was a time of celebration and wild joy with dancing, feasting and gift giving, particularly of wax candles, and earthenware figurines.
The best part of the Saturnalia (for slaves) was the temporary reversal of roles. Masters served meals to their slaves who were permitted the unaccustomed luxuries of leisure and gambling. Clothing was relaxed and included the peaked woollen cap that symbolized the freed slave. A member of the family was appointed Saturnalicius princeps, Lord of Misrule. Some early Christian leaders endeavored to attract pagans to their faith by adding Christian meaning to these existing festivals by merging the concept of the birth of the sun/son.
Sources:
http://pagaian.org/news/solstice-summerwinter-earthgaia.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/12/1220_021220_solstice_2.html
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi to everyone who has read this article.
Please let us know how the summer/winter solstice affected you. Did you notice anything different on the 22nd or a bit before or after?
I noticed there were telecommunication difficulties with the internet and phone systems. Also seemed to be an intensity in feelings relating to questions about where I want to be going and who I want to be in my life, going there with me.
Caroline
Hi Caroline
What i remember on the 22nd of December was feeling exhausted, weak and very vulnerable. I felt i’d arrived at the end of a cycle, a very big cycle and i felt very, very tired. From where i stood i could not see what the next cycle held. A major time of uncertainty and searching for a place within myself to sit and wait – and allow the next chapter to unfold.
The transformational times of change, at present, are tremendous – another good reason to take good care of our bodies, love and nurture and be kind to ourselves. Much change is also ahead – but i feel, hopefully, we’ve grown ‘muscles’ through our ‘trials’ in 2008 – which will give us strength and courage to ‘follow our hearts’ in this incredibly exciting year ahead.
The 22nd of December heralds an end of a cycle – our glorious sun slows down, stops and starts travelling in the opposite direction. So huge and he manages this so gracefully.
The ‘energies’ of this year, as most of us would have experienced, have been strong. We stand in a very critical time in our human and earth’s history. So coupled with the incredible energy of the Sun changing direction, the Sun’s neighbours – in particular the outer planets – are also strongly directing these current cycles. The music of the spheres at present must be intense and powerful!
We have an inner compass – our heart – i believe this can guide us through the fog.
A very Happy New Year to you all
marilynxx