Today we celebrated the shortest day of the year, here in the Southern Hemisphere. So I'm posting a short talk I gave at our community garden gathering tonight. We celebrated the winter Solstice and a good night was had by all. Decorations of ivy, candles, carved pumpkins, pristine white tablecloths and the centre piece - an Australian bush wreath with the lighting of the ceremonial solstice candle. I gave the address, we said the Fire blessing, and the Winter Queen, aka my daughter, read from the chronicles of Narnia. Have posted the talk below. It bears the grand title of "Solstice Sermon". Interspersed throughout are my favourite winter things.
Winter Story from The Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem.
Find a little child, any child, curl up on the couch and read it to them.
A winter's treat.
http://www.bramblyhedge.co.uk/
Find a little child, any child, curl up on the couch and read it to them.
A winter's treat.
http://www.bramblyhedge.co.uk/
The Solstice Sermon
We are together in the gathering darkness to celebrate the shortest day of the year. It is a time to celebrate the tranquillity of this night and the hibernation of winter. It is a time to become reacquainted with the ones we love, and the ones who love us. It is a time to share colds, the flu, coughs and runny noses. It is also a time to share socks, hot water bottles, a mug of soup or a warm blanket. And tonight, it is the perfect time to create warmth, love and congenial company. So let us gather to feast on soup, bread, mulled wine, chocolate and good conversation. And let us look to the light that will now return to us, day by day.
Hmm....hot chocolate. Love it. Especially at my favourite place to curl up in winter - Moorabool Valley Chocolate By Design. Not only does Lynne make great chocolates, there's a comfy couch, a wood stove, soup and homemade bread everyday in winter.
http://mooraboolvalleychocolate.com.au/
Solstice Science
So, what is winter solstice? Well, first to the science behind the solstice. For the Southern Hemisphere, winter solstice, or the southern solstice, is June 21st. This year, at 3.46 pm, the Sun is at its most Northerly position for the year. That means it is at its greatest distance away from us and, because the earth is tilted on its axis, it is at its lowest point in our sky. Because the sun is at its maximum distance north of us, we enjoy our longest night and shortest day of the year. The sun rises at 7.36 am and sets at 5.08 pm, giving us a day that lasts 9 hours, 32 mins and 29 seconds. Our friends and family in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate their longest day of the year. At home in the North Pole, Santa enjoys 24 hours of daylight, also known as the polar day while the penguins at the South Pole dwell in darkness for the same 24 hours, also known as the polar night. So much for the scientific explanation in which Santa somehow made an appearance.
Rising and setting times for the Sun – Melbourne Victoria
Length of day | Solar noon | ||||||
Date | Sunrise | Sunset | This day | Difference | Time | Altitude | Distance |
(106 km) | |||||||
18 Jun 2009 | 7:35 AM | 5:08 PM | 9h 32m 45s | − 11s | 12:21 PM | 28.8° | 151.994 |
19 Jun 2009 | 7:35 AM | 5:08 PM | 9h 32m 37s | − 08s | 12:21 PM | 28.8° | 152.006 |
20 Jun 2009 | 7:35 AM | 5:08 PM | 9h 32m 32s | − 05s | 12:22 PM | 28.8° | 152.018 |
21 Jun 2009 | 7:36 AM | 5:08 PM | 9h 32m 29s | − 02s | 12:22 PM | 28.8° | 152.028 |
22 Jun 2009 | 7:36 AM | 5:08 PM | 9h 32m 31s | + 01s | 12:22 PM | 28.8° | 152.038 |
23 Jun 2009 | 7:36 AM | 5:09 PM | 9h 32m 35s | + 04s | 12:22 PM | 28.8° | 152.047 |
24 Jun 2009 | 7:36 AM | 5:09 PM | 9h 32m 42s | + 07s | 12:23 PM | 28.8° | 152.055 |
All times are in local time for Melbourne
June Solstice (Winter Solstice) is on Sunday, 21 June 2009 at 3:46 PM in Melbourne. In locations south of Equator, the shortest day of the year is around this date
Solstice Stories
The word solstice is Latin. It means “the sun stands still”. Hibernal Solstice means winter solstice. It is also know as mid-winter and is often celebrated by countries in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a time of hibernation, when life lies buried beneath ice and snow. It was once a time of celebration before the setting in of deep winter.
This celebration was all about food. Cattle were slaughtered so they didn’t need to be fed over winter. Fermented beer and wine were ready to drink. And it was the last time to feast, or to stuff your face. Starvation was just around the corner, with January to April known as the famine months. Winter would often bring death for early European cultures.
Solstice was a very important religious festival. We like to imagine the ancient Stonehenge (Stonehenge 2600 bc) with celtic druids, sacred groves and mistletoe. This is a popular subject for New Age solstice rituals.
But many of the legends, stories and rituals are as dark as the winter solstice night itself. In Sweden, tribes celebrated Midvinterblot or mid-winter-sacrifice. Animals and even people were sacrificed to appeal to the local gods to let them go of winter’s grip.
On the darkest day of the year, ancient Germanic tribes would light a large “yule” log to keep away the evil spirits as they waited through the longest night for the sun to rise.
In ancient Greece, the winter solstice was called Lenaea, or the Festival of wild women. A man who represented the harvest god Dionysius was sacrificed and eaten by nine women. Dionysius would be reborn as a baby. Thankfully for Greek men, the human was eventually replaced by a goat in the ritual.
For the ancient Celts, the three days before solstice were the Serpent Days or transformation, when the Sun God journeyed through the underworld to learn to the secrets of death and life. The Sun God returns with the souls to be reincarnated.
Many ancient peoples believed winter came when the sun god became sick and weak. The celebration of the winter solstice marked the time when the sun god would begin to regain his strength. Evergreens, like holly and ivy, symbolised the imminent return of the sun. But away with tales of death and darkness!
The Roman feast of Saturnalia honoured the god Saturn. It was a time of feasting and celebration. Halls of houses were decked with boughs of laurel and evergreen trees. An especially happy time for school children, soldiers and prisoners as schools were closed, the army rested and no criminals were executed. Slaves feasted with their masters. Friends visited and exchanged gifts. Temples were decorated with evergreens to symbolize the continuity of life. Later, December 25th became a single festival called ‘The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun’. Sound familiar? The rebirth of the sun later became the birth of the Son.
This celebration was all about food. Cattle were slaughtered so they didn’t need to be fed over winter. Fermented beer and wine were ready to drink. And it was the last time to feast, or to stuff your face. Starvation was just around the corner, with January to April known as the famine months. Winter would often bring death for early European cultures.
Solstice was a very important religious festival. We like to imagine the ancient Stonehenge (Stonehenge 2600 bc) with celtic druids, sacred groves and mistletoe. This is a popular subject for New Age solstice rituals.
But many of the legends, stories and rituals are as dark as the winter solstice night itself. In Sweden, tribes celebrated Midvinterblot or mid-winter-sacrifice. Animals and even people were sacrificed to appeal to the local gods to let them go of winter’s grip.
On the darkest day of the year, ancient Germanic tribes would light a large “yule” log to keep away the evil spirits as they waited through the longest night for the sun to rise.
In ancient Greece, the winter solstice was called Lenaea, or the Festival of wild women. A man who represented the harvest god Dionysius was sacrificed and eaten by nine women. Dionysius would be reborn as a baby. Thankfully for Greek men, the human was eventually replaced by a goat in the ritual.
For the ancient Celts, the three days before solstice were the Serpent Days or transformation, when the Sun God journeyed through the underworld to learn to the secrets of death and life. The Sun God returns with the souls to be reincarnated.
Many ancient peoples believed winter came when the sun god became sick and weak. The celebration of the winter solstice marked the time when the sun god would begin to regain his strength. Evergreens, like holly and ivy, symbolised the imminent return of the sun. But away with tales of death and darkness!
The Roman feast of Saturnalia honoured the god Saturn. It was a time of feasting and celebration. Halls of houses were decked with boughs of laurel and evergreen trees. An especially happy time for school children, soldiers and prisoners as schools were closed, the army rested and no criminals were executed. Slaves feasted with their masters. Friends visited and exchanged gifts. Temples were decorated with evergreens to symbolize the continuity of life. Later, December 25th became a single festival called ‘The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun’. Sound familiar? The rebirth of the sun later became the birth of the Son.
I love walking along the waterfront on a windy day. Thank you to "Dave", the random international student who posted his happy snaps from Geelong on the web for friends and family. Hope you enjoyed your own walk here on this windy day.
Solstice Society
Solstice is a celebration of light that spans time, history and culture.
For the ancient Chinese, solstice was celebrated as the time when the yin qualities of darkness and cold would give way to the light and warmth of yang. The celebration of Dong Zhi, the arrival of winter, is still one of the most important festivals on the Chinese calendar. This is known as "Doing the Winter" (Ju Dong) and families gather eating expensive meat dishes.
The festifal of Shabe-Yalda is celebrated in Iran. It originated in Zoroastrianism and celebrates the rebirth of the sun. People gather throughout the night to tell stories and read poetry. They eat watermelons, pomegranates and a special dried fruit/nut mixture. Bonfires are lit outside to help the sun battle darkness.
Jews celebrate Hannukah, the Festival of Lights. It commemorates the historic overthrow of the Greeks by the Maccabees and it the rededication of the temple at Jerusalem.
And what about our unique land here down-under, where the seasons are upside down and we are doing the winter in June? Snow is a novelty, our winter is neither a time of hunger nor starvation. Instead, we know a thing or two about droughts and bushfires. And yet, even in our warmer regions, there are changes of seasons.
For the Bininj/Mungguy of Kakadu, the time from mid-June to mid-August is known as Wurrgeng or ‘cold weather ‘ time. There is low humidity, with a pleasant daytime temperature of 30c, while at night the thermometer dips to 17c. Creeks stop flowing, the floodplains dry out. It is a time to ‘clean the country’ with fire. Birds of prey patrol the fire lines as insects and small animals escape the flames. Magpie geese and waterbirds crowd around shrinking billabongs.
Solstice is a celebration of light that spans time, history and culture.
For the ancient Chinese, solstice was celebrated as the time when the yin qualities of darkness and cold would give way to the light and warmth of yang. The celebration of Dong Zhi, the arrival of winter, is still one of the most important festivals on the Chinese calendar. This is known as "Doing the Winter" (Ju Dong) and families gather eating expensive meat dishes.
The festifal of Shabe-Yalda is celebrated in Iran. It originated in Zoroastrianism and celebrates the rebirth of the sun. People gather throughout the night to tell stories and read poetry. They eat watermelons, pomegranates and a special dried fruit/nut mixture. Bonfires are lit outside to help the sun battle darkness.
Jews celebrate Hannukah, the Festival of Lights. It commemorates the historic overthrow of the Greeks by the Maccabees and it the rededication of the temple at Jerusalem.
And what about our unique land here down-under, where the seasons are upside down and we are doing the winter in June? Snow is a novelty, our winter is neither a time of hunger nor starvation. Instead, we know a thing or two about droughts and bushfires. And yet, even in our warmer regions, there are changes of seasons.
For the Bininj/Mungguy of Kakadu, the time from mid-June to mid-August is known as Wurrgeng or ‘cold weather ‘ time. There is low humidity, with a pleasant daytime temperature of 30c, while at night the thermometer dips to 17c. Creeks stop flowing, the floodplains dry out. It is a time to ‘clean the country’ with fire. Birds of prey patrol the fire lines as insects and small animals escape the flames. Magpie geese and waterbirds crowd around shrinking billabongs.
A beautiful vegetable garden in winter's rest somewhere in a magical place called England.
Of course, we Australians tend to the more humble "vegie patch",
which usually lacks the order, structure and symmetry of it's regal counterpart
from the mythical kingdom across the ocean.
But in my humble vegie patch, I can dream...
Of course, we Australians tend to the more humble "vegie patch",
which usually lacks the order, structure and symmetry of it's regal counterpart
from the mythical kingdom across the ocean.
But in my humble vegie patch, I can dream...
Our gathering here is a time to celebrate the season of our own winter, here in our garden, and in our own lives. It is a time to rest the soil and to restore the soul. A time to prepare before the growing season of spring, when life will be renewed and restored. And we know that spring is not far away. On this day, the darkness of night may triumph over the light of day. But only for a time. From the dark womb of the night, a light will be born. The darkness will give way to light. Let us tonight farewell the darkness and look to the light.
