Every December 21st The solstice marks the change of seasons. While it marks the start of summer in the southern hemisphere, in the north it coincides with the longest night of the year. For many people this date is also associated with symbolic arrival of the Christmas spirita belief that comes with religious celebrations and secular traditions at the end of the year.
The most common rituals include setting up the tree, lighting lights or candles and preparing typical dishes. In several Latin American countries, a special custom is also maintained: Open doors and windows to make the night of December 21st possible “Get into the Christmas spirit” and renew the energy of your home. Behind this gesture lies a lesser-known story related to ancient pagan celebrations in Northern Europe.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, people living in what is now Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland celebrated this Yulea pre-Christian holiday that began on the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and lasted about twelve days.
Like many celebrations associated with this date, Yule was all about that Light, fire and banquets. Over the centuries, the term was increasingly used to describe Christmas: it appeared as a synonym for this holiday as early as the 9th century. In several languages of Germanic origin the word is still valid to refer to the Christmas season: jul in Norwegian, Swedish and Danish; joulu in Finnish; jol in Icelandic. In Scotland, Christmas is still called Yule today.
During the pagan festival of Christmas Animal sacrificewhich served a dual function: to honor the deities and to reduce the number of farm animals that had to survive the extreme winters. Much of what is known about these practices comes from the writings of Saint Bede, a Christian monk and chronicler who lived between the 7th and 8th centuries.
As Christianity evolved and the process of religious syncretism began, many of these traditions were incorporated into the celebration of the birth of Christ. It is estimated that around the 10th century, some Christmas traditions were already part of the Christian Christmas celebration and were promoted by rulers such as the Norwegian King Haakon I, who encouraged evangelization by adapting pre-existing rituals.
According to Nordic belief, a deity visited the earth on the night of the solstice. This idea of a spiritual presence associated with cycle change has been maintained and transformed in various cultures.
Today, those who practice neo-paganism or attempt to restore Scandinavian traditions often restore rituals associated with Christmas, such as: symbolic burning of logs for twelve days or holding communal banquets. Others draw on ancient Celtic legends, such as the battle between the Holly King, associated with winter, and the Oak King, associated with summer.
The belief that the solstice mobilizes special energies led to simple rituals without religious connotations, focused on gratitude and reflection at the end of the year.
In the Southern Hemisphere, where the December solstice marks the start of summer, these practices are often adjusted to coincide with the end of the calendar year. To perform a symbolic ceremony, you need one Candle, a small container and paper with a pencil.
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