The Winter Solstice is an annual event, well actually bi-annual, marking the exact moment when half the Earth is tilted the furthest from the sun. It usually happens on December 21st or 22nd, at the exact same second around the world. For the Northern Hemisphere, Winter happens December, January and February. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, it’s reversed as their Winter Solstice is in June, July and August! The same goes for the Summer Solstice. For most, the winter solstice marks the changing of Autumn to Winter. However, there’s a contrast between the winter solstice—called the astronomical first day of winter—and the primary day of the winter season, which is called the meteorological first day of winter. Annually, meteorologists have to determine the primary day of the winter season based on temperature records. For the US, winter can continue for around 90 days. Researchers frequently tie it to the calendar so that winter falls amid the last mentioned portion of December, January, February, and the early portion of Autumn.
So, how do different cultures celebrate this phenomenon? Below are seven cultures’ ways of celebrating the winter solstice.
1. Antarctica: Midwinter
In Antarctica, the winter solstice is celebrated by the researchers residing there during the harsh winter season. Festivities include preparing and sharing special meals, the screening of films that offer a distraction from the cold environment, and the exchange of handmade gifts.
2. Northern Arizona: Soyal
Soyal, celebrated by the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona, is marked by an array of ceremonies and rituals that emphasize purification and include various forms of dancing. In some instances, the festivities also involve the exchange of gifts. A key element of Soyal is the welcoming of the Kachinas, protective spirits from the mountains, which occurs during the winter solstice. Participants also craft and use prayer sticks, which are imbued with spiritual meaning and are utilized in various blessings and rituals.
3. Pakistan: The Festival of Chaomos
This celebration is the longest festival of the year for the Kalasha people. During the ceremony participants sing, dance, perform animal sacrifice, and conduct rituals of purification that last throughout the entire festival. One notable practice of purification involves adults cutting branches from cedar trees to create smoke, which symbolizes a message to their god. The participants also engage in Sarazari, which occurs between December 9th and 10th and involves each household singing and chanting while gathering dry fruits.
4. Scandinavia: St. Lucia’s Day
In Scandinavian culture, the winter solstice is celebrated through a festival of lights. Originally dedicated to St. Lucia, a Christian martyr, this festival has merged with ancient Norse traditions linked to the solstice which include igniting fires to fend off spirits on the year’s longest night. In tribute to St. Lucia, girls wear white dresses adorned with red sashes and crown themselves with candle-laden wreaths.
5. China: The Dongzhi Festival
The Dongzhi Festival holds a place of significant importance in Chinese and East Asian cultures. The festival’s roots are deeply entwined with the Yin and Yang philosophy, emphasizing balance and harmony in the universe. It celebrates the gradual increase of daylight hours, which symbolizes an influx of positive energy. A key aspect of Dongzhi is the emphasis on family reunions. In southern China, the tradition involves making and eating tang yuan, chewy balls made from glutinous rice flour. On the other hand, in northern China, the custom is to prepare and consume dumplings. The reason behind this dates back to the Han Dynasty, when Chinese physician Zhang Zhongjing’s remedy for preventing chilblains–itchy patches that pop up on one’s skin after being exposed to cold weather–from appearing on children without coats was giving them warm, lamb-stuffed dumplings. Lastly, it is a popular belief among Chinese communities worldwide that one ages a year immediately following the Dongzhi celebration.
6. Iran: Yalda
Yalda, also known as Shab-e Yalda, is an ancient Persian festival that celebrates the winter solstice in Iran. This celebration represents the triumph of light over darkness, and is often regarded as the birthday of the Iranian sun god Mithra. During Yalda, family gatherings occur and participants consume foods like traditional nuts and pomegranates. Some choose to stay awake throughout the night in order to greet the morning sun with reverence and joy, celebrating the arrival of longer days and the sun’s renewed strength.
7. Peru: Inti Raymi
In Peru, the solstice celebration occurs in June, rather than December, because Peru’s winter season occurs in June. Like Yalda, this also honors a sun god: the Incan deity Inti. Historically, before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the Incan festivities were marked by grand feasts and sacrifices, which could include animals and, in some cases, children. Although Spanish rule prohibited Incans from celebrating this holiday, it was revived in 1944 by Quechua writer, actor, and director Faustino Espinoza Navarro in Cusco, Peru, and involves mock sacrifices, rather than actual ones. Today, this celebration continues to be an important part of Peru’s cultural heritage, connecting its people to their rich Incan history.
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