At Solstice, something magical happens
At the Winter Solstice we reach the depth of that darkness with the longest night of the year. Darkness is at its peak. The Earth grows dark and cold as the Sun disappears, the days gradually get shorter.
But at Solstice, something magical happens. The Sun stands still as we await the return of the light.
This is indeed something to celebrate, and it has been acknowledged throughout history in the Northern Hemisphere in remarkably similar ways.
The Festival of Rebirth and The Return of the Sun
With the end of the longest night the dark is defeated with the Return of the Sun, the return of light, hope and promise. The Goddess gives birth to the Sun/Sun God. The Sun begins to wax and the days grow longer. All that is hidden will begin to emerge.
The Oak King and The Holly King
The Northern Europeans believed that the Holly King ruled over the year from Midsummer to Yule. At Yule he ‘surrenders’ to the light of the Oak King, his twin, who rules from Yule to Midsummer. Both fight for the attention of the Earth Goddess and each surrenders their life force for the well-being of the land.
Traditions of Yule
