Gardening Sweet Spots
by Donna Hessel
Trees and Plants Have Played an Important Role in the Celebration of the Winter Solstice
The winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – falls on December 21 at 10:03 a.m. (EST) this year. After that day, the sun starts to climb toward summer and the spring equinox.
Ancient cultures had myths surrounding the return of light after the winter solstice because, as the Sun moved lower in the sky, it seemed that it might be disappearing forever. To encourage the Sun to return, bonfires were built, gifts for the gods were hung from the branches of pine trees, and evergreen plants were brought indoors to symbolize everlasting life. Certain trees held specific meaning.
Evergreens and pines were important symbols.
Evergreens represented immortality since they were the only trees to stay green when other trees lost their leaves. Pine symbolized peace, healing and joy.
Oak trees were revered for being long-lived.
Even though oak trees were not evergreen, they were symbols of eternal life and considered a source of protection, strength and endurance. In Celtic tradition, the entire trunk of an oak tree was kept burning for 12 hours on the eve of the solstice. If the fire did not go out, it meant the household would be protected and have an abundant harvest and good health in the coming year. A piece of that log was saved and used to start next year’s fire because, as the old log was consumed by the flames, any problems from the old year were thought to go with it.
Yews represented the death of the old year and were a connection between this world and the next. Birch trees symbolized new beginnings.
Holly brought protection and good luck.
Rosemary summoned the Sun.
Rosemary is an evergreen shrub in warm climates and was called the herb of the Sun.
Ivy symbolized marriage, faithfulness, and healing. It was made into wreaths and garlands to decorate during the winter.
Mistletoe was often made into wreaths.
Mistletoe stood for peace and happiness. Much of mistletoe’s significance stems from the Celtic celebration of the winter solstice. The Druids were the professional class of ancient Celtic society and led public rituals, much like priests. When people saw the days getting shorter and shorter, a great ritual was needed to reverse the course of the Sun. After the great Druid Winter Solstice celebration, the Sun began to move higher in the sky, thus confirming the power of the ritual.
Mistletoe played a significant role in the ritual. It was the most sacred of plants to the Celts. It was carefully cut on the winter solstice with a golden sickle from the oldest holy Oak tree. Branches were not allowed to touch the ground lest the mistletoe lose its magic. Mistletoe branches were given to people to hang over their doorways as protection. It was believed that mistletoe could cure illness, provide an antidote to poisons, assure fertility (because it produced seeds in winter) and protect against evil witchcraft.
Other Ancient Traditions
Alban Arthan – Welsh for “Light of Winter,” is probably the oldest seasonal festival of mankind. The Newgrange, built in Ireland around 3200 BC, is associated with the Alban Arthan festival. The Newgrange is a large, circular mound with a stone opening and interior chambers. When the Sun rises, the chamber is flooded with sunlight on the winter solstice – similar to the event at Stonehenge in England.
The Feast of Juul – Fires were lit in Scandinavia to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning Sun. A Yule – or Juul – log was burned on the hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god Thor. It was Thor’s job to bring the Sun’s warmth back to the people. The log was never allowed to burn completely and was kept both as a token of good luck and used as kindling for the following year’s log.
Dongzhi Winter Solstice Festival – Celebrated in China, it was and still is a time for the entire family to gather to celebrate the past good year. Dumplings are usually eaten. The ancient Chinese thought the yang, or muscular, positive things would become stronger and stronger after this day, so it should be celebrated.
Saturnalia – The ancient Roman winter solstice festival began on December 17 and lasted for seven days. It was held to honor Saturnus, Roman god of agriculture and harvest. Characterized by the suspension of discipline and reversal of the usual order, grudges and quarrels were forgiven, wars postponed and carnival-like festivities engaged in.
Plan Your Own Winter Solstice Celebration
Mark the occasion with sweet and traditional solstice rituals, from brewing mulled cider and eating winter solstice foods, to lighting lanterns and candles, relaxing by the fireplace, reflecting on past good work and making resolutions for the seasons ahead.
Firelight and candles make the night special.
Turn off the lights; set the fireplace logs ablaze; make a lantern. Switching off all the electric lights and doing dinner, homework, bath, story time and more by the light of flickering candles and warm lantern light make even mundane activities extra special – and reminds us how lucky we are to have electricity!
One of the most popular winter solstice activities is adding light to the darkest day of the year. It’s easy to make a lantern from a glass Mason jar. Cut out sun, moon, and star shapes from colored tissue paper, or use foraged leaves. Adhere them to the outside of a jar using Modpodge or white school glue. Let dry, drop a tea light into the jar and enjoy the warm glow.
Seed wreaths are popular with all birds.
Decorate an Outdoor Edible Tree for the Animals
Decorate an outdoor tree with biodegradable, edible seed ornaments for local birds and other creatures. Peanut butter/seed pine cones and ornaments or wreaths, citrus treats or classic popcorn and cranberry garlands will be appreciated by the wildlife.
Read Winter Solstice Books
What better time to snuggle up under a blanket and read through a stack of wintery-themed books than the shortest (and likely one of the chilliest) days of the year? “The Shortest Day,” written by Susan Cooper and illustrated by Carson Ellis, moves through time to show how winter solstice traditions and celebrations have carried on and evolved over centuries. Find other book suggestions online or from the local library.
Recite Winter Solstice Quotes, Poems or Blessings
An internet search yields a plethora of choices.
Mulled cider and wassail are traditional solstice beverages.
Make A Winter Solstice Food or Craft
Orange pomanders (cloves stuck into oranges) are easy to make and will add fragrance to a room long after winter solstice. Watermelon and pomegranates are traditional solstice foods because their vibrant red colors represent the “glow of life.” In some parts of Iran, watermelons are saved from the summer and hung in a protected place. On the longest night of the year, called “Shab-e Yalda,” family and friends stay up all night, tell stories and eat the watermelons. Watermelons and pomegranates are two symbolic fruits for Shab-e Yalda because it is believed that the sharing of these jewel-toned summer fruits will bring good health for the cold season ahead.
Get a jump on New Year’s resolutions.
Reflect, release and set intentions. The winter solstice is a time to honor both the light and the darkness within each of us. Have everyone take scraps of paper and write down the things that they would like to let go of. When everyone has finished, throw them in the yule log fire, transforming darkness into light. After “letting go,” set intentions for the new season ahead — have everyone speak aloud a thing, idea, habit or practice that they would like to bring into their life.
View the world from a hilltop.
In Celtic tradition, one place to be visited during the solstice time is an open area or hill that affords a view of the horizon in all directions. What better way to celebrate than to bundle up and climb to the top of the tallest hill?
Check your noontime shadow around the time of the solstice: It will be your longest noontime shadow of the year. Conversely, in June, at the time of the summer solstice, you’ll see your shortest noontime shadow. This is because the Sun is at different angles. The Sun’s low arc across the sky in winter causes objects to cast longer shadows.
Happy Winter Solstice! And remember to hang a twig of mistletoe over your doorway.
Article References:
Plants of the Winter Solstice
From The Old Farmer’s Almanac – December 12, 2024
“Celebrating Natural Symbols of the Winter Solstice” by Robin Sweetser
Information about Druids and mistletoe from a blog by Barbara Wills Sarudy – “It’s About Time – Connecting Today with the Past,” November 29, 2023
Solstice celebration suggestions from Mother Mag – “How to Celebrate the Winter Solstice” by Erin Feher & Katie Hintz-Zambrano
eHRAF World Cultures- “Solstice Treats.”
Photos courtesy of pexels.com
