Happy Winter Solstice!

Happy Winter Solstice!

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. People around the world celebrate the occasion in different ways. Here are just a few of those ways.

In China, people celebrate Dong Zhi by getting together with family and eating special foods, such as tang yuan (glutinous rice balls), or dumplings. It is a time to celebrate the end of the year, and a turning point when yin energy transitions to the positive energy of yang.

Peru’s winter solstice, Inti Raymi, is celebrated in June and honors the Incan sun god Inti (Quechua for “sun”). The festival takes place in the city of Cusco. Festivities include feasts and mock sacrifices that honor historic rituals.

In the Southern Hemisphere, they celebrate Midwinter. Festivities include special meals, films, and sometimes handmade gifts.

The Hopi Indians of northern Arizona celebrate the winter solstice during Soyal. Ceremonies and rituals include purification, dancing, storytelling, and gift-giving. At the time of the solstice, the Hopi welcome the protective spirits from the mountains. Prayer sticks are crafted and used for various blessings and other rituals.

In Scandinavia, St. Lucia’s Day honors St. Lucia with the lighting of fires to ward off spirits during the longest night. Girls dress up in white gowns with red sashes and wear wreaths of candles on their heads in honor of St. Lucia.

In Japan, they celebrate TojiIn. The winter solstice involves several rituals and customs to welcome the return of the sun. These traditions include taking a hot bath with yuzu, a citrus fruit known for its healing properties, eating a winter squash called kabocha, and foods that contain the “n” sound to bring good luck.

The Persian festival Yalda, or Shab-e Yalda, is a celebration of the winter solstice in Iran. Loved ones get together to eat, drink, and read poetry throughout the night and to welcome the sun. The holiday symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

Yule is one of the oldest winter solstice festivals. Its origins are complicated and difficult to trace. One tradition of Yule is the Yule log, still popular today in a modernized form. The original Yule log was supposedly a large log that burned throughout the entire festival, for as many as 12 days. A popular modern take on the Yule log is a roulade-style cake that looks like a log.

These are just some of the ways to celebrate the winter solstice. What are some celebrations that you are familiar with?