Articles related to "What Is The Winter Solstice"

Every season is a celebration. Winter is the beginning of a new year. Quiet and cold winter days are a wonderful time to create seasonal family traditions.

The Celtic origins of the Winter Solstice, or Yule, lie behind many of today's Christmas rituals. A look at the ancient meanings of Yule and how to celebrate Yule today.

Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, generally thought to fall on the 21st December. But what are the origins of this magical day, and how is it celebrated?

The shortest day and the longest night is a time for Wiccans and Pagans to celebrate the return of the light in the depth of midwinter.

Representing the longest night of the year the Winter Solstice is a time to celebrate family, reflect on the lessons of the year and look forward with hope and light.

Ancient cultures, so many of them dependent upon agriculture, celebrated major festivals on or around the day of the Winter Solstice.

This recipe is a fun variant of the traditional gingerbread house created around the holidays and like the original, if this one falls apart, it's still acceptable!

The Advent Wreath is both Pagan and Christian, the melding of ancient Celtic Pagan rites in the darkest days of winter with Christian anticipation of the birth of Jesus.

Both traditional and contemporary songs are available to celebrate Yule, or the winter solstice.

Use picture books to explore the beginning of winter - the winter solstice, or Yule. These books examine light, darkness, and the changing seasons.

Christmas honors the birth of Jesus, and is observed by most Christian churches, but the holiday finds its roots in the Winter Solstice celebrations of the ancient world.

Consumers are turning away from hype of gifting around the holidays to include items that are local, handcrafted and planet-friendly.

Here are some great books to teach children about Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.

The cold dark days of December arrive with the winter solstice, and two meteor showers surround the date, bringing brief bursts of light.

Longest night of the year, day of joyfulness and rebirth.... Evergreens and mistletoe adorn windows, doors and halls.... A time to exchange "niceties".... Make merry!

The astronomical beginning of the winter season is signaled by Earth's tilt and the amount of sunlight received in the Northern Hemisphere.

Parallels to many of our Christmas customs can be seen in the winter solstice celebrations of ancient times.

If the Mayans predicted an alignment during the winter solstice in the year 2012 would signal the end of the world, what is so special about the sky on this night?

National Geographic teaches children about the Christian celebration of Christmas in its Holidays Around the World series.

National Geographic teaches children about the Christian celebration of Christmas in its Holidays Around the World series.

The holidays are known as at time for warmth and friendship, but between Santa Claus, the birth of Christ, presents, cookies and conifers what does Christmas mean?

Many people enjoy Pagan Christmas traditions without knowing of their origins. From the Yule wreath to candles and lights, ancient practices abound at Christmas.

Children gain by learning about winter holidays in other cultures. Three winter festivals of light include India's Diwali, Winter Solstice, and Thailand's Loy Krathong.

Many people would like to celebrate Yule, but are not sure how to go about it. It's really not as hard as they may think if they are willing to learn about the traditions

Winter Solstice has been celebrated in cultures all over the world for centuries. Learn the history behind this celebration of the coming of the light.

The 21st day of December marks a tradition in the northern hemisphere of new beginnings, perseverance, and the return of the sun.

Take a ride on the Christmas train at Stanley Park, enjoy a winter solstice lantern festival at Granville Island and watch the Santa Parade in downtown Vancouver.

2012 the end of the world? From Mayan 2012 predictions the Mayan Calendar's 2012 says so, and even Hollywood has a 2012 movie. What does the historical research show?

The early Christians absorbed certain pagan practices into observances of Christmas.

Before Christmas there was Yule, the original winter festival that started many festive traditions, from Yule logs to holly and Twelfth Night.

Christmas is really a latter day tradition. Harvest festivals have always surrounded the winter solstice.

Halcyon birds, according to Greek mythology, bring us days of peace and calm around Christmas time--halcyon days. The bird in the legend is the European Kingfisher.

The modern version of Christmas is an amalgam of many pagan traditions from early civilizations, especially that of the ancient Romans.

Purveyors of 2012 doomsday scenarios provide scientific sounding astronomical myths to lend their end of the world predictions an aura of authenticity. It just ain't so!

Don't be like Scrooge; the only holiday spirits around on Christmas should come in a mug of eggnog.

Sprigs of holly are a symbol of Christmas. Santa wears one and many a home is decked in holly for the holidays. But where does holly grow and what kind of plant is it?

The holidays offer a perfect opportunity to reconnect with the heart of homeschooling.

Pagans celebrate the Solar Festival with decorations made of holly, ivy, evergreens and mistletoe, the Sabbat's traditional plants. They make merry by Yule fires.

Cusco's largest celebration of the year, held every June 24, re-enacts the ancient Inca ceremony welcoming the winter solstice in Peru.

Most city and suburban Pagans usually don't have access to fields and logs. Substitute! Feast on traditional foods! Magick prevails on the Winter Solstice....

On the high ground overlooking the river Boyne is a complex of some forty passage tombs which together make up one of the Irish Republic's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Most people who celebrate Christmas include in their decorating some kind of tree decorated with baubles and lights. It is an old tradition whose origin is unclear.

Solstice occurs twice a year. It happens when either the northern or southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun so that the hemisphere has the longest day of the year.

The accepted Western definition of seasons starts at the solstices and equinoxes, but in China the seasons are centered on the solstices and equinoxes.

Planning, lists, invitations, help, food, drink and activities, it's a lot of work putting together a fun holiday party. Here's some tips for a fun holiday party!

Steeped in lore, holly represents one of the Christmas season's most ancient traditions.

Christmas is the most popular holiday in the world. When did Christmas begin? How was Christmas first celebrated? Why was Christmas created?

Day of joy and rebirth.... Solar festival celebrated by Yule log's fire.... Holly, ivy, evergreens and mistletoe adorn windows, doors, rooms and halls.... Rejoice! Merry

Yule is the name for the pagan festival which celebrates the Winter Solstice and many present day customs originate from those traditions.

From Christmas tree toppers to icy queens, Christmas faeries can both enchant and bring freezing storms. Learn about Christmas fairy traditions and famous winter fairies.