Winter Solstice 2023

mrymntcpw
Dec 21, 2023
2 min read

Winter Solstice 2023

In Columbus, Ohio, USA: Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 10:27 pm EST

The Solstice Stone at Merry Mount

The winter solstice is the time of year when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, also known as Yule.

Yule is a time to celebrate the hope of returning light and life.

The Earth's axis is angled away from the sun that causes the northern hemisphere to receive the shortest duration of sunlight. This means that we have arrived at the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

Yule

According to historythings.com, Yule, or jól, was a midwinter festival celebrated by Nordic peoples, and it fell sometime in between mid-November and early January, probably sometime around Winter Solstice.

Fires were lit, and toasts were drunk to Odin, Njord, and Freyr for victory in battle and good harvests. A log would be burned, and for as long as that log burned, everyone would feast. It was believed that each time the log sparked, it was a signal that another pig or calf would be born in the new year. This could last for up to twelve days.

Ancient Celts would decorate their homes with holly as a protection, since the plants were believed to have magical powers since they stayed green all year and survived the winter months. Mistletoe was hung from doorways to ward off sickness and poison and witchcraft and to ensure fertility.

Winter Solstice at Merry Mount is one of the merriest times of the year. For over twenty years we have hosted a celebratory dinner with a group of extended family we call the “Porch Crew.” We eat, drink, laugh, read, play, and sing-such merriment!