Winter Solstice

[Jcrowley]

Solstice means...

standing-still-sun



Winter solstice was overlaid with Christmas, and the observance of Christmas spread throughout the globe. Along the way, we lost some of the deep connection of our celebrations to a fundamental seasonal, hemispheric event. Many people--of many beliefs--are looking to regain that connection now.

I gain inspiration from the universality of the ancient idea--winter solstice celebrations aren't just an invention of the ancient Europeans.

Native Americans had winter solstice rites. The sun images below are from rock paintings of the Chumash, who occupied coastal California for thousands of years before the Europeans arrived. Solstices were tremendously important to them, and the winter solstice celebration lasted several days.





In Iran, there is the observance of Yalda, in which families kept vigil through the night and fires burned brightly to help the sun (and Goodness) battle darkness (thought evil).

Winter solstice celebrations are also part of the cultural heritage of Pakistan and Tibet. And in China, even though the calendar is based on the moon, the day of winter solstice is called Dong Zhi, "The Arrival of Winter." The cold of winter made an excellent excuse for a feast, so that's how the Chinese observed it, with Ju Dong, "doing the winter."

http://www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html#others

Winter solstice for 2006 will occur in North America on December 21. The precise time depends on your time zone. In PST, it will be 4:22 pm; in EST, 7:22 pm.

[LiberalEsto]

1. Yalda?

That Iranian word sounds incredibly similar to Yule, Jul, and Joulu (Estonian)in Northern Europe. I wonder if there is a connection, since it's the same celebration of the Winter Solstice.

Happy Winter Solstice, and see my blessing at

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=245&topic_id=32914&mesg_id=32914



:hi:

[sarge43]

2. Farsi (Modern Persian) is an Indo-European based language.

So, quite likely shared ancient roots with the Germanic, also I-E. However, Estonian is part of the Uralic language family as is Finnish and Hungarian. Joulu could be a borrowed word from surrounding neighbors.

[LiberalEsto]

4. Here's more info

This is an interesting article on the origins of the word Yule. Some theorists claim the word derives from an ancient word for wheel, but this writer says Yule has always referred to the Winter solstice.

http://www.cauldronfarm.com/asphodel/articles/Yule_Is_Not_The_Wheel.html

[sarge43]

5. Thank you, LiberalEsto, interesting article n/t

[aquart]

3. Farsi is an indoeuropean language, so yes, they're connected.

[oblivious]

6. Re Yalda: "The Story of the Longest Night of the Year"

Tehran, 21 December 2005 (CHN) -- Yalda, a Syric word imported into the Persian language by the Syric Christians means birth. It is a relatively recent arrival and is referred to as Shab e Chelleh Festival, a celebration of Winter Solstice on December 21st, the last night of fall and the longest night of the year. Ancient Iranians believed that at the end of this longest night, which they believed was evil, darkness is defeated by light (sun) and days become longer.

This celebration comes in the beginning of the Iranian month of Dey (pronounced Day), which comes from the root Deity and was the name of the pre-Zoroastrian god. Later, he became known as the God of Light, from which the English word day is originated.

Iranians of all origins, faiths, and ethnics, as well as many people in neighboring countries, celebrate Yalda Night in which, according to Mithraism and Iranian mythology, the sun is reborn.

The birth of the sun and the beginning of winter are marked as the beginning of the year in some countries. Moreover, early Christians related this very ancient Persian celebration to Mithra, Goddess of Light, and linked it to Christ s birthday. In birth, sun and Jesus are close to each other, says one Iranian tale of Yalda. Today the date in which Christmas is celebrated is slightly off from Yalda Night. However, Christmas and Yalda are both celebrated in a similar fashion by staying up all night, singing and dancing, family and friends gatherings, lighting candles, and eating special foods.

more at:
http://www.chnpress.com/news/?section=2&id=6052

[AnnieBW]

7. Blessed be!

And Merry Solstice to you, too! Great picture!