Winter Solstice 2014: Shortest Day Of The Year Marked By Pagan Celebrations

[hrmjustin]

HuffPost Religion Editors

In 2014, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will begin on Dec. 21 at 6:03 p.m. EST. To calculate the turning point in your time zone, click here.

Officially the first day of winter, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. This is the longest night of the year, meaning that despite the cold winter, the days get progressively longer after the winter solstice until the summer solstice in 2015.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/20/winter-solstice-2014_n_6336518.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

1. I shall celebrate the Winter Solstice this year

The same way I do every year. By ignoring it completely. Same goes for the Summer Solstice and both Equinoxes.

[Cleita]

2. Sad day for me.

I lost my husband of 33 years ten years ago on the Winter Solstice. However, I have looked to the significance also. The pagans believed it was an ending, and sure there was the death of much before winter, but then there was a beginning leading to a rebirth in spring. I hope it was the same with my DH. He finished his journey on this earthly plane and I hope he began another journey where his soul went.

My husband was Irish Catholic, but I believe there was the Druid still part of him that made him choose that day to leave us. Also, after the fact, one of the neighbors told me there were two large a owls in the tree behind our house that hooted for a significant time. I didn't see them because there was the preoccupation with EMTs and ambulances to get him to the hospital. Some of my pagan friends tell me that it's very auspicious that owls would escort his soul out of this life.

Just my two cents. Now I have to go cry a little.

[hrmjustin]

3. I am so sorry for your loss!

[okasha]

4. I'm sorry for your loss.

Departing on that day was a very Druid thing to do.