By Audrey Lopez and Leah Shoberg
It’s the holiday season again, and let’s hope that everyone’s prepared, because it’s coming if you’re ready or not. There are so many things to do this time of year, that most people don’t stop to remember what they’re celebrating in the first place and why. Sadly enough, the distant echo of times past can hardly be heard over the ringing of department store registers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not referring to everyone!! Only basing my opinion on the fact that sales soar around this time and most everyone goes broke buying gifts. Coincidence? Probably not. But I’m here not to criticize, but to remind you of what this time of year is really about.
Originally, before the take over of the Romans, people of the Old Ways would celebrate Solstice. There are two Solstices actually; the Summer and the Winter. Everyone knows about them, I would hope. Summer Solstice being the longest day of the year, June 21. And Winter Solstice being the longest night of the year, December 21.
Traditionally, the Solstice was referred to as “Yule”– A word that comes from Germanic languages–and was a time for many things, but primarily for retaining hope in the middle of the cold winter months. You see, after the Harvest, which was usually on September 23rd, Autumn Equinox–Equal day and equal night–the people of the Old Ways would prepare for the coming winter months. The Solstice was the day that marked the peak of the cold and the lengthening of the days back toward spring. And when spring did come around, it was a time for fertilizing the land and planting seeds for food to grow, and then be harvested for the next winter to come. The Solstices and Equinoxes are key days in the cycle of the Earth.
But because it’s Yule time, we’ve decided to give you a few fun facts of traditional things that took place and why. So maybe you can feel closer to the predecessors of this Earth by giving some of these traditions a shot. You may be surprised though, most of these Old Way traditions are strikingly similar to the traditions of today…..
Fun Facts:
—A tree of evergreen is brought into the house and decorated to symbolize the continuation of life, and to renew the hope that warm months are soon to come.
—Holly and mistletoe is brought into the home and used to decorate the house for the same reason the evergreen tree was, to renew hope that the Earth will soon wake from its slumber and bloom again.
— Exchanging gifts is a symbol of remembering the things given to you throughout the year, and of giving to people less fortunate something to hope for in the coming months.
—Hanging mistletoe and being kissed under it is an old Druid custom.
—A time to lean on each other and think about the support, kindness, and friendship of others.
—A time of rejoicing and being merry about the things you have, and sharing those things with friends and family.
Note: Many people still celebrate these days religiously. In several different cultures there were many Gods and Goddesses attached to these sacred days of the cycle of the Earth, and large amounts of people still celebrate them today.