Happy Winter Solstice

 The solstice itself may have been a special moment of the annual cycle of the year even during Neolithic times. Astronomical events, which during ancient times controlled the mating of animals, sowing of crops, for example, show how various cultural mythologies and traditions have arisen.

The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities were not certain of living through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months.  Starvation was common in winter between January and April, also known as the famine months. In temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration, before deep winter began. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was almost the only time of year when a supply of fresh meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time. Food plus drink equals party!!! The concentration of the observances were not always on the day commencing at midnight or at dawn, but the beginning of the pre-Romanized day, which falls on the previous eve.

Since the event is seen as the reversal of the Sun's ebbing presence in the sky, concepts of the birth or rebirth of sun gods have been common and, in cultures using winter solstice based cyclic calendars, the year as reborn has been celebrated with regard to life-death-rebirth deities or new beginnings such as Osiris, Jesus, and Baldur.

In Greek mythology, the gods and goddesses met on the winter and summer solstice, and even Hades enter Mount Olympus for the meeting (his domain is the underworld so he of course does not have time for Olympian’s meeting any other time). Also reversal is yet another usual theme as in Saturnalia's slave and master reversals see.

Happy Birthday to all the Sun Gods*

Ra

Apollo

Helios

Mithras

Horus

Freyr

Lugh

Jesus

This is only a handful of Sun Gods