The shortest day of the year, normally December
21st, is known as the Winter Solstice and is still a magical time for many
people in the northern hemisphere.
This is the day when the sun appears to stand still,
as the earth’s North Pole tilts the furthest away from the sun, before the days
will begin to lengthen again until reaching the longest day on the Summer Solstice.
The word solstice is thought to stem from two Latin words: sol, meaning sun and sistere,
to stand.
The days leading up to the Winter Solstice were
known as Saturnalia in Roman times, marking the moment when the sun was reborn
after the shortest day and longest night. To celebrate the occasion and to
welcome the coming of light, most people left aside their work to enjoy as much
merriment and feasting as possible.
Another important part of the festival was the
winter greenery brought inside to decorate homes around this time, such as ivy,
holly, laurel and mistletoe, all illuminated by the light from candles. The evergreen
ivy and the holly with its bright red berries have had many myths and legends
attached to them over the centuries, often to do with new life and rebirth.
Here in Britain, there is a wealth of carols and
poems celebrating the place holly and ivy have in our December traditions, both
pagan and Christian, from Advent, through the twelve days of Christmas to
Epiphany, such as this poem by Robert Herrick from the 16th century.
The darling of the world is come,
And fit it is we find a room
To welcome him. The nobler part
Of all the house here is the heart.
Which we will give him, and bequeath
This holly and this ivy wreath,
To do him honour who’s our King,
And Lord of all this revelling.
Many people still celebrate this special time at the
Winter Solstice and it is especially sacred to the Druids and some pagan
beliefs. Stonehenge in England is one of the most significant ancient spiritual
sites where hundreds of people will gather to watch the sun set on the shortest
day this December and will welcome the new sunrise after the longest night of
the year.
The Winter Solstice partly forms the background for
Midwinter Masquerade which is set in Edinburgh and the Scottish countryside
during the Regency period of 1816. This was such a dark year in many ways that
it was known as ‘the year without a summer’.
For the rest of December, Midwinter Masquerade is on
sale at only 99p (99c) from Amazon UK and Amazon US!
Rosemary
