Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Winter Solstice, aka hibernal solstice




As I’m bustling about in preparation for the coming holidays, feeling more and more frazzled every day, I’m inclined to adopt a winter solstice mindset, a time of calm reflection. Also, hibernal suggests hibernation and that’s an idea I can get behind.

Recently I’ve been reading about how the solstice is celebrated around the world. Throughout history, the darkest day of the year has been marked by ritual, reflection, and feelings of renewal. People in Scandinavia celebrated Yule by gathering around fires to burn Yule logs and sip warmed mead – both of which were good antidotes to the encroaching dark and cold of the northern winter. The celebration also welcomed the return of the sun – each subsequent day will be longer.

Ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia, dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, to mark the end of the planting season. Music, gift-giving, and feasting lasted for several days.

Traditional solstice rituals continue to be celebrated. St. Lucia’s Day was a festival of lights during which fires were lit on the longest night to scare away spirits. Today in Scandinavia, young girls dress in white and wear a wreath of candles on their heads.

Many people in Japan mark the solstice and the return of the sun, called Toji, by bathing in water scented with yuzu, a citrus fruit. They eat kabocha squash for good luck, and they light bonfires.

Not surprisingly, fires and candles are a common theme across many cultures.

To celebrate winter solstice this year, I plan to walk a labyrinth (perhaps while celebrating this year’s accomplishments and contemplating next year’s goals) before feasting with good friends – a bit of nature and a bit of good cheer. And I’ll light a few candles.

And then I’ll crawl in my cave and not poke my nose out for a few months.

No matter how you celebrate this time of year, may your home be filled with light, warmth, and love.


~~~



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Guess who’s moving in next door?


Nicole Bennett is used to bad luck—it’s kind of a family curse. She’s spent the past year stitching her life back together after losing her dream job. Well, it paid the rent. Now stuck working at her family’s grocery store while wrangling a demoralized dad and a spoiled-brat sister, the last thing she needs is for the man who wrecked her life to move in next door, even if it is for only three weeks. So what if he’s sexier than sin and makes her believe in fairy tale endings?

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What starts off as a no-strings fling soon veers into making promises that might be impossible to keep.


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Photo of fireplace by Stéphane Juban on Unsplash

6 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

Luanna, Love this post and the history and traditions of Winter Solstice or Yule. I'll be lighting the candles and most likely sitting before that fire contemplating this past year and looking forward to the next along with two of my best friends. Oh, we may have a hot toddy or two also.
I also tend to be more hibernal this time of year.

Your new series looks like a winner!

Lynn Lovegreen said...

Happy Solstice, Luanna! We celebrate it here in Alaska, too. :-)

Luanna Stewart said...

Ah yes, Judith, the hot toddies are required! Thank you for your kind words about my new book.

Luanna Stewart said...

Lynn, a blessed Solstice to you, as well!

Sarah Raplee said...

Hibernating does look good on the shortest day of the year! This was an interesting post. I love learning the history of different holidays. Blessed Solstice to you, Luanna.

Deb N said...

Judith - as Luanna's critique partner, I can vouch for what a fun book this is with witty dialogue. But as we took time off from critiquing, I haven't read the end. So it is on my Kindle to read :-)

Interesting blog on international celebrations and history of Solstice.