Monday, December 21, 2009

Winter Solstice - Shortest Day /Longest Night

I looked up today and realized it is getting dark and the clock said 4:00p.m. Then I realized it is the Winter Solstice today - the day when the earth's axial tilts the farthest away from the sun. A day where we have the shortest day of sunlight and the longest night. The day we officially welcome winter. To me it means the days will finally start to get longer and warmer.

Today is also a day of celebration for many cultures all over the world. In China they will be eating a lot of eggs to show their unity towards mother earth. In other places they will be celebrating the earth mother or winter goddess Helda or Holga. The Aztecs did a little sacrifice to the sun Gods and set their yearly calendar today. Today I will light a candle, create something and enjoy the cold.

In some circles of the world there was Raimi the Festival of the Sun. Now that sounds fun till you get to the sacrifice part. Why was it always young girls? I believe this was an Aztec thing.

Odin out slaying the Frost King. He is pretty gruesome isn't he?

5 comments:

peggy gatto said...

What an interesting post, thanks!!!

indybev said...

Thanks for taking the time to remind us all of the meaning of winter solstice! Your blog is very special, my dear!

Bea said...

Happy Solstice to you! :)Bea

Tammy Freiborg said...

Thanks for sharing! Here in MN, I'm amazed that the shortest day isn't in the middle of January. I look forward to the daily increase of light.

Terri Kahrs said...

Interesting, educational post today, Elizabeth! I love the fact that we've made it to the "shortest day" and look forward to longer, light-filled days! Happy Winter Solstice! Hugs, Terri xoxo