How to Winter Solstice…

So, what are we actually celebrating again?

December is perhaps the holiest month of the year. Western Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Pagans and even Zoroastrians have something to celebrate this month. If you’re in a country that celebrates Christmas, you’ll likely have already felt bombarded by it for a while now. Though it’s a shame to admit, it seems that in recent times commercialism has become the guiding force behind Christmas. However, you may be surprised to learn just how long this has been the case: Ben Jonson created ‘Father Christmas’ (not to be confused with St. Nicholas) in 1616 in defence against Protestants who criticised the traditional feast, the Christmas card was invented in 1862 after more expensive metal engraved cards failed to catch on and Coca Cola invented Santa’s iconic red suit in 1931 to sell more cokes.

Sorry to sound like such a scrooge, but Christmas is just one day in a litany of other pagan established holidays that have been co-opted or adapted in the name of gaining more followers or commercial enterprise. Christmas is only ‘Christian’ because ancient winter pagan celebrations were incorporated by the Church. Going back to the ancient world, it is no coincidence the 25th December was chosen as the celebration day. This is the day of Sol Invictus (invincible sun), the day in which the pagan world came together to celebrate the birth of the Sun Gods Osiris (Egypt), Apollo and Bacchus (Greece), and Mithra (Persia). Thus the ancient festival of Winter Solstice, the birth of the sun, came to be adopted by the church as the nativity of Jesus; From there, it has somehow become a whole season in which we look forward to what mega-corporations have come up with for their tv adverts.

In the last half-century or so Christmas has taken on this frantic identity and become a time where we have to do more, be more, and buy more. For some, it has become a time of maximum stress and angst. Winter should be a time for slowing down, hibernating even. This year has been a difficult one for us all. We’re not trying to gloss over the fact that some really serious things have happened and many of us will be spending this period with less family at the table than we’re used to, but rather than bemoan the loss of artificially created festive chaos, let’s reframe this festive season. It is the opportunity to pull back from a tacky tinselfest, strip this event of its over branding and look at the winter celebration in its most natural form.

So, with all this in mind, how do you have a pagan Christmas? Well first, by pagan we mean traditions taken from the Romans, Celtics, Norse, Druids, and more. Let’s start with the date. The most important period of the pagan Winter Solstice is the 21st-22nd December, this is the longest night of winter. In Celtic countries, the Winter Solstice was seen as a time of rebirth and renewal as signified by the return of the light after the shortest day of the year.

One of the simplest ways to honour this is with an evergreen tree. Though the practice of decorating a tree is often thought of as a victorian invention, in pre-Christian Britain the Druids placed evergreen trees outside their homes to symbolise the coming of spring. While popping that tree outside, feel free to decorate mistletoe inside. The Druids revered mistletoe as an evergreen symbolising peace and joy. Considered an aphrodisiac, it was a representation of the continuation of life even in the coldest winter months. Early Germanic tribes also got into the spirit of tree decorating. Their decoration of choice was fruits and candles to honour Odin. We recommend making yours slightly less of a fire hazard, and merging with the Roman tradition of hanging metal decorations on the trees outside of your house instead of hanging a lit candle on the tree in the front room (unless looking to recreate the iconic Lampoon’s Christmas tree moment, then have at it).

Spend the week between the 17th and 24th December giving gifts like the Romans did during Saturnalia. To honour Saturn, the god of agriculture, Romans exchanged small gifts in the name of good luck. They hoped the exchange would bring about a bountiful harvest the following year. Extra bonus for this financially tricky year, the Romans only bought a gift for one person. So if you really don’t want to get involved with the zoom secret Santa this year and struggle while trying to come up with something more interesting than joke socks for Brian from Accounts, it’s fine to just say you’re doing Saturnalia this year instead.

If you feel like spicing up your mulled wine, why not try participating in the Anglo-Saxon tradition of Wassailing. Deriving from the word ‘waes hael’, wassailing translates to ‘good health’. To make the traditional Wassail drink, mix and heat mulled ale, curdled cream, roasted apples, eggs, spices and sugar in a large silver serving bowl, preferably with the capacity to hold 40L/10 gallons. After enjoying a drink, settle in front of the Celtic yule log you’ve had burning for the last twelve days. Round this all off with a medley of original Christmas carols to drive away evil spirits and offer blessings to your neighbours. Modern pagan songs can even be found on youtube these days; Inkubus Sukkubus’ Hail the Holly King or Damn the Bard’s Midwinter’s Day are two places to start.

Wishing Tree Portal at Knowlton Church & Earthworks Dorset

Bottom line, this celebration is not owned by any one culture and especially not by any one religion. It is part of all our humanity. From all at Temple and the Moon, we wish you a very merry celebration of winter in all its forms.

Words: Holly Westwood