When one of the Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun, it is the winter solstice, also known as the hibernal solstice. Twice a year, this occurs, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). The winter solstice, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum height in the sky, is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year for that hemisphere. Either pole's winter solstice is surrounded by twilight or perpetual darkness. The summer solstice is the opposite occasion.
The hemisphere's winter is when the winter solstice occurs. This is the June solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and the December solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (typically on the 21st or 22nd of December) (usually the 20th or 21st of June). Even though the winter solstice only lasts for a brief period of time, the phrase also applies to the day it happens. Although it has many meanings, the phrase "midwinter" is also used to refer to the winter solstice. The winter solstice is traditionally observed as the middle of winter in many temperate locations. In contrast, it is now celebrated as the start of winter in other nations and on some calendars. Other titles include the "shortest day" or the "winter extreme" (Dongzhi).
Since prehistory, numerous societies have celebrated and ritualized the winter solstice as a crucial time of year. It symbolized the Sun's symbolic demise and rebirth; the gradually dwindling number of daylight hours is turned around and starts to increase once more. Some ancient structures, including Newgrange and Stonehenge, are oriented with the winter solstice's sunrise or sunset.
Historically and Culturally Significant
Even during the Neolithic period, the solstice may have been a significant point in the annual cycle for some tribes. Astronomical occurrences were frequently employed to direct activities like animal breeding, crop sowing, and the monitoring of winter food supplies. This is the basis for numerous cultural mythology and traditions.
Physical remnants in the architectural designs of late Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites, such as Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland, witness this. These two monuments' main axes appear to have been precisely placed on a sight line that faces both Newgrange's winter solstice dawn and Sunset (Stonehenge). The Great Trilithon at Stonehenge was angled outwards from the center of the structure, which meant that its smooth, flat face was towards the midwinter Sun.
Due to the people's reliance on tracking the change of the seasons for economic survival, the winter solstice was of utmost significance. The first few months of winter commonly referred to as "the starvation months," occurred from January to April in the northern hemisphere or from July to October in the southern hemisphere. The midwinter festival was the final feast before the onset of deep winter in temperate countries.
It was almost the only time of year when a substantial amount of fresh meat was accessible because the majority of cattle were slaughtered so they wouldn't need to be fed over the winter. At this point, the majority of the wine and beer produced over the year had finished fermenting and was ready for consumption. The focus of the celebrations was often on the beginning of the pagan day, which in many cultures fell on the preceding eve rather than the day beginning at midnight or dawn.
Concepts of the birth or rebirth of sun gods have been widespread since the event was perceived as the reversal of the Sun's ebbing presence in the sky. The "year as reborn" was commemorated in civilizations that employed cyclic calendars based on the winter solstice by making mention of life-death-rebirth deities or "fresh starts" like the Hogmanay redding, a New Year cleaning custom. Another common topic is "reversal," as in the reversals of the slave and master at Saturnalia.
Winter Solstice Iranian
Iranians celebrate "Yalda night," which is known as the "longest and darkest night of the year," on the eve of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. One of the earliest Iranian customs that has existed in Persian culture from ancient times is the Yalda night celebration, or "Shabe Chelleh" ("the 40th night"). Every family member gathers on this night, typically at the eldest's house, to celebrate by eating, drinking, and reciting poetry (esp. Hafez). During this event, nuts, pomegranates, and watermelons are especially popular.
Winter Solstice India
The Hindu calendar's Makara Sankranti holiday honors the god Surya and is also referred to as Makara Sankranti or Maghi (sun). It is celebrated in January each year. It is the first day that the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn), bringing the winter solstice, the end of the month, and the beginning of longer days. Hindus celebrate this date, known as Ayan Parivartan, in India as a holy day by engaging in rituals including bathing in sacred rivers, giving alms and donations, praying to deities, and performing other virtuous actions.
Germany
Yule is a winter festival observed by the Germanic and Scandinavian pagans of northern Europe (also known as Jul, Julblot, and jólablót). The 13th-century Icelandic author Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla mentions a Yule celebration held by the Norwegian monarch Haakon the Good (c. 920–961). Snorri said that the Christian Haakon had repositioned Yule from "midwinter" to coincide with the Christian Christmas holiday. Because of this, several academics now think that Yule was originally a winter solstice sun festival. Since midwinter in medieval Iceland was a time period that fell around four weeks after the solstice, most modern researchers do not agree with this assertion.
Winter Solstice Judaic
The Talmudic explanation is based on an Aggadic narrative recorded in tractate Avodah Zarah 8a that Adam was the first to start the custom of fasting before the winter solstice and celebrating thereafter. This festival later evolved into the Roman Saturnalia and Kalendae.
The First Man observed that the day was getting shorter and shorter, and he cried, "Oh my God! The world around me grows gloomy and returns to being formless and void because I have sinned. The death to which Heaven has condemned me is this one" He made the decision to fast and pray for eight days. He said, "It is the order of the world," when he observed the winter solstice and the lengthening of the day. He went and indulged in food for eight days. He feasted for both the year after that. Although they did so in the name of idolatry, he erected them in the name of Heaven.
Winter Solstice Observation
Even if the moment of the solstice may be predicted, amateurs are unable to directly observe the solstice because the Sun travels too slowly or appears to be stationary (the meaning of "solstice"). But thanks to astronomical data tracking, everyone now knows exactly when it happened and when. The exact moment of the solstice cannot be directly observed (by definition, one cannot observe that an object has stopped moving until one later observes that it has not moved further from the preceding spot, or that it has moved in the opposite direction).
Azimuth or elevation changes must also be less than or equal to 1/60 of the Sun's angular diameter in order to be accurate to a single day. It is simpler to see that it happened inside a two-day time frame because it only requires an observation precision of roughly 1/16 of the Sun's angular diameter. As a result, rather than being of the instant, many observations are of the solstice day. This is frequently accomplished by viewing the sunrise and sunset or by employing a device that is astronomically positioned to allow a light beam to be cast on a specific place at certain times.
However, due to the fluctuation in the length of the solar day throughout the year brought on by the Earth's eccentric orbit, the earliest sunset and latest sunrise dates differ from those of the winter solstice and depend on latitude (see earliest and latest sunrise and sunset).
Final World
The Winter Solstice is celebrated worldwide on December 21st. It marks the arrival of winter and ushers in new beginnings. So, if you want to celebrate this special day like millions of others do, just make sure you stay warm and safe.
While there is no traditional cake or sweets for the occasion, you can still enjoy some delicious fruits and cupcakes instead! Besides that, why not spend some quality time with your loved ones? The season will be here soon enough so don’t waste it worrying about where to go shopping. Instead, why not simply relax by holding hands and enjoying each other’s company?
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