Either way, the oak is associated with summer and light, with the flowers of the tree blooming in May. Some neopagan traditions celebrate these shifts in power at the Equinoxes instead, which has the Oak King at the height of his power on the Summer Solstice and the Holly King at the height of his power on the Winter Solstice. He then oversees the lengthening days of spring and summer. But, deep in the winter, they do battle again, and the Oak King emerges victorious on the Winter Solstice. The Holly King holds sway for the darker part of the year, having defeated the Oak King in battle on the Summer Solstice. Modern pagans often represent and celebrate this cycle through the story of the Holly King and the Oak King, who each reign for half of the year. The Winter Solstice may mark the longest night, but it also brings hope and the promise of a slow shift towards warm days and summer.Īfter the 21 st December the days begin to get longer by an average of just over two minutes each day, and the seasons cycle towards the longest day on the Summer Solstice. Hot mulled wine was already a firm favourite and a usual toast was ‘lo Saturnalia!’. Saturnalia honoured the Roman god Saturn, who was associated with abundance, agriculture and seasonal renewal.Ĭelebrations included the traditions of drinking, feasting and exchanging presents. It is likely that the date of Christmas was chosen purposefully to overlap with the pre-existing celebrations of Yule and the Roman festival of Saturnalia. This would be burnt in the fireplace over the 12 days of Yule, bring literal and symbolic light and warmth into the home. The familiar Yule Log, which we may look forward to eating in cake form, was originally a large tree trunk decorated with herbs or symbols to bring abundance and fertility. Christmas and SaturnaliaĬhristmas and Yule have many overlapping features, including traditions of feasting, sharing gifts and drinks with friends, decorating a tree and lighting candles. Newgrange in Ireland is famously aligned to receive the morning light around the Winter Solstice. Even in modern times, this is a striking and dramatic depiction of the light returning. On these mornings, the light from the rising sun penetrates the stone roof box and travels up the nineteen metre underground passage to the inner chamber. Various historical sites are set up for these celebrations, and the passage tomb at Newgrange in Ireland is famously aligned to receive the morning light around the Winter Solstice.
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