Another winter solstice

In our Northern Hemisphere, winter solstice’s day is my favorite time of the year as it signals light bottoming out before rebounding into the promise that tomorrow, everything will turn around towards a brighter future, for at least the next six months. That transition is filled with hope as the days grow longer, even if the drop into darkness is often less noticed because it’s not really appreciated. 

This is probably why that time of the year is filled with spiritual meaning and used by religions the world over to mark the transition between darkness and light, not to mention into a brand new year! That signals a symbolic rebirth as we’re marking the shortest day of the year and its darkest time that symbolizes death, dormancy, and the end of a cycle. 

Without smartphones, our ancestors were deeply connected to the natural world and its rhythms. The solstice was a crucial time for survival, marking the onset of winter and the need to prepare for the harsher months ahead. Celebrating that moment helped folks connect with the natural cycles and find hope and resilience during a challenging time. 

That’s why many cultures have developed unique rituals and celebrations around the winter solstice, starting with the pagan tradition of celebrating Yule, the festival honoring the return of the sun. Same thing with Christmas that, while having Christian roots, incorporates many pre-Christian winter solstice traditions. Many other cultures have their own unique celebrations and rituals associated with the winter solstice.

I was about to forget the scientific and astronomical meaning, starting with Planet Earth reaching that famous 23.5 degrees tilt relative to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. Sure, it’s the opposite if you live in Sydney or Buenos Aires as you enter a long, warm summer! In essence, the solstices mark the points of maximum and minimum solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. 

All these considerations comfort my belief that its powerful symbolism of darkness and light, death and rebirth, make the winter solstice the most remarkable day of the year. At least for me. Now, enjoy the day!