Winter Solstice: Everything you need to know
When is the winter solstice in 2023?
While many things have changed in humans’ lives over the ages, one thing has remained the same: the sacred nature of the sun. In fact, our beliefs, celebrations and daily havits have revolved around the warmth and light it provides for millennia.
What is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice, also known as hibernal solstice, happens when either one of our planet’s poles reaches its maximim tilt away from the sun. This happens twice every year, once in the Northern hemisphere and once for the Southern hempisphere, kicking off their winter seasons.
When is this year’s winter solstice?
Winter solstice in the UK takes place on Friday 22nd December 2023, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. So, astronomically, the winter season won’t start until then.
In line with that, the astronomical winter season is due to come to an end on Wednesday, 20th March, 2024.
Since prehistoric times, the winter solstice has played a significant part in human cultures and, to this day, it is celebrated across the globe.
The History of Winter Solstice
Winter solstice celebrations have been a part of human existence since the beginning of time. Our earliest ancestors around the world would notice that there was one specific day when days would start to grow longer again. While we observe the winter solstice around the world, Germanic cultures of northern and western Europe primarily celebrated Yule. At the midpoint of winter, they celebrated the rebirth of the sun and the light it would bring to the earth.
Yule was a pagan festival that followed the midwinter solstice (usually around 21st/22nd December) and celebrated the return of the sun as the days slowly started to get longer again. The festivities, which involved lots of drinking and consuming of slaughtered animals, lasted up to 12 days, hence the 12 days of Christmas.
The winter solstice was a particularly inauspicious the night when Odin was said to ride through the skies with the Wild Hunt collecting the souls of the dead. So everyone stayed indoors feasting, afraid to go outside lest they be caught out alone and abducted by the Wild Hunt.
The Modern English word Yule comes down to us via the Middle English yol from the Anglo-Saxon Geol, though nowadays it is more commonly known as Christmastide or the 12 Days of Christmas. However in Scandinavia they still call it jul (pronounced yule) or jol. One of the many names of Odin recorded in the Icelandic sources is Jolnir, which means The Yule One. Though this name probably refers to his role as leader of the Wild Hunt at Yule, rather than to a jolly giver of gifts.
Yule Rituals
People came together to feast, drink, and make sacrifices until the log burned out, which could take around 12 days. This would often lead to some very happy (and perhaps inebriated) people gallivanting around and signing joyful songs. In the framework of our current calendar, Yule ran from around December 21 or 22 until January 1. Pagan Scandinavian and Germanic people would call the celebration the Feast of Juul and it was their way of having faith that the next season would be fruitful.
Yuletide Today: From Odin to Santa Claus
The ancient Norse god Odin, often associated with Yule, might have taken on a new guise over time. Some historians suggest that Odin transformed into the jolly figure we know today as Santa Claus or Father Christmas, adding a mythic layer to our festive season.
As Christianity began to spread in the 1st century AD, many pagan traditions were often seen as gluttonous and ungodly. However, Roman Catholic Church leaders aligned the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25 in 336—the same date as Saturnalia. It’s speculated that choosing December 25 was a strategic political move by Roman emperor Constantine to weaken pagan celebrations and push people towards the Christian faith. Christmas “borrowed” from established winter solstice celebrations and traditions like Saturnalia and Yule and combined them with the commemoration of Jesus birth.
There’s undoubtedly a correlation between Yule and Christmas. Many Christmas traditions like trees, Yule logs, caroling (which stems from wassailing), and mistletoe were from earlier pagan practices. This isn’t surprising considering how people began to spread out, explore, and colonise different areas. Locations that were not predominately Christian adapted the religion by either choice or force.
To this day, people worldwide celebrate the winter solstice in various ways. Some gather at ancient sites like Stonehenge to witness the sunrise, acknowledging the solstice's alignment with these historic structures. Festivals, cultural events, and simple gatherings with loved ones also characterise modern solstice celebrations.
The secular aspects of Christmas, including gift exchanges, festive decorations, and shared meals, have become widespread, transcending religious boundaries. The winter solstice remains a universal moment for reflection, renewal, and shared joy, connecting us to a legacy of diverse traditions that have evolved over time.
Solstice Walk: Nine Ladies Stone Circle
All this talk of ancient rituals made you keen to get outside and follow the footsteps of our ancestors? Then we have just the thing. Our 7-mile walk around Nine Ladies Stone Circle and Stanton Moor is perfect for a winter solstice meander.
Steeped in mystery and folklore, this Bronze Age monument consists of nine upright stones arranged in a circle. As you stand amidst these ancient sentinels, you can really get a sense of the rituals and ceremonies that once took place here thanks to its mystical atmosphere.
Fancy giving it a go? Find full details here
