The Winter Solstice, celebrated in the modern day on December 21 or 22, has been a day of celebration and reverence for thousands of years. The sun appears to stand completely still, and there is less sunlight this day than on any other throughout the year. Ancient civilizations across the globe saw this day as one of great endings and beginnings, and was one of several major astrological events that led to the creation of ancient temples and sites that still stand to this day.<\/p>\n
Whether you consider Winter Solstice the official start to winter or not will depend on which spectrum of science you hang your calendar. Astrologists and almanacs consider it the beginning, but meteorologists have usually unpacked their turtlenecks by then. This is because where the earth is positioned in the sky does not accurately unveil the seasons from a temperature standpoint. The beginning of December marks the beginning of wintry temperatures, so to a meteorologist this is the more realistic start to the season.<\/p>\n
Winter Solstice has influenced every culture in the world, and its influence has resulted in many unique forms of celebration.<\/p>\n
Yalda Night – <\/strong>The Iranian celebration, Yalda Night, considers this day to be a victory of light over darkness, adopted from the ancient Persian belief that the day is the birthday for the sun god, Mithra. It is customary to stay up all night to welcome the first light (sunrise) of the new season.<\/p>\n Soyal – <\/strong>The Hopi, Pueblo, and Zuni tribes welcome the spirits of the mountains during Soyal. The Kachinas, as these spirits are called, offer protection, hope, fertility, and other good things. This is a celebration of purification and thanks.<\/p>\n Dongzhi – <\/strong>This festival, celebrated in China, Dongzhi, symbolizes the end of harvest season and the \u201carrival of winter\u201d. This three-day (December 21-23) holiday pays tribute to the year behind while looking forward to the year ahead.<\/p>\n Saturnalia – <\/strong>The God of Saturn was traditionally depicted as bound by his feet in statue, but during this Roman festival he was set free along with all slaves and moral law breakers. This week long celebration was a time where anything goes, and all would be forgiven.<\/p>\n Inti Raymi – <\/strong>This ancient celebration of the Incas began as a way to honor the sun god with feasts and sacrifices. The celebration was celebrated in June (their winter) but was later banned by the Conquistadors. Today, the holiday has been revived with many of the old traditions, including \u2018mock\u2019 sacrifices.<\/p>\n Joloblot\/Thorrablot – <\/strong>Besides having a wide assortment of menu items, like sheep\u2019s head, cured shark, and testicles, this sacrificial Iceland celebration is about paying it forward to the Viking weather spirit, Thorri. Late-night festivities also include storytelling and dancing.<\/p>\n Lohri – <\/strong>The Punjab religion in South Asia calls their Winter (harvest) Solstice, Lohri. The significant name behind much of the festivities is Dulha Batti, a Muslim robber who worked much like Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and distributing his booty to the poor and helpless.<\/p>\n Pongal – <\/strong>Thailand may not officially recognize this four-day holiday as \u2018mandatory\u2019 for all schools and banks, but they still give the days off for everyone to enjoy. The word Pongal comes from the tradition of boiling as much rice, lentils, milk, jaggery, and nuts as it takes to \u201cpongal\u201d (spill) them out of their pot. This action is said to bring prosperity for the new year.<\/p>\n Lantern Walk – <\/strong>Nova Scotia residents keep it simple by welcoming winter with handmade lanterns and a leisurely stroll.<\/p>\n Newgrange – <\/strong>Over 5,000 years ago, Irish architects built a passage tomb that would offer the dark stone interior a brilliant golden glow one day out of every year. On December 21, a lottery is drawn for the hundreds of people who travel to the site to witness the phenomenon. The lucky winners get to go inside the burial chamber, which is said to be a magnificent experience whether the sun makes an appearance or not.<\/p>\n Mayan city of Tulum – <\/strong>Within the ancient Mayan city of Tulum, stands an assortment of stone structures that appear much the same on any other day, except for the Winter and Summer Solstice. As the sun rises on December 21, the sun catches a hole in the roof of one of the lone buildings, cascading a starburst effect across its walls.<\/p>\n Stonehenge – <\/strong>Despite the fact that nobody has ever been able to explain why this massive stone monument was actually built, Stonehenge is the place to be on the morning of every December 22 calendar date. With your back to the entrance, the sun slowly rises until it (hopefully) makes its yearly appearance in the center of the stone circle.<\/p>\n Following Winter Solstice, the sun will return the next day, staying longer by one minute each day. This has been symbolized as the death of the old and resurrection of the new sun. Some cultures would punish the darkness during Winter Solstice by burning and symbolically dragging it through the streets so that the sun could be reborn into freedom the next day.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s not ignore Saturn\u2019s position during Winter Solstice, which is welcoming the sun into its ruling constellation of Capricorn. This is a time to look forward to spring but settle into the reality that we\u2019ve got a number of long nights ahead until the sun overcomes darkness and nudges the early spring flowers from their slumber. So, pace yourself, many Astrologers would say, and remember to conserve energy (and heat) for the long nights ahead. Within the death and rebirth of every Winter Solstice is the opportunity to take advantage of some pacing, and yes, planning too.<\/p>\n Astrology plays an important role in your day-to-day life. The planets are responsible for your moods, experiences and more, which is why you should get a psychic astrology reading. Our astrology psychics can calculate your natal chart and tell you about the important dates in your life (past, present, and future) that will massively impact you.<\/p>\n Learn more about our psychics from real testimonials<\/a>\u00a0and read through our Astrology & Numerology Blog<\/a>. Want to read more about your personal birth chart first? Get a free birth chart report<\/a>\u00a0today! Find an astrology psychic<\/a>\u00a0or learn more about astrology readings<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n About California Psychics<\/strong> An Ancient Celebration The Winter Solstice, celebrated in the modern day on December 21 or 22, has been a day of celebration and reverence for thousands of years. The sun appears to stand completely still, and there is less sunlight this day than on any other throughout the year. Ancient civilizations across the globe saw this day as one of great endings and beginnings, and was one of several major astrological events that led to the creation of ancient temples and sites that still stand to this day. Astrology Vs Meteorology Whether you consider Winter Solstice the official start to winter or not will depend on which spectrum of science you hang your calendar. Astrologists and almanacs consider it the beginning, but meteorologists have usually unpacked their turtlenecks by then. This is because where the earth is positioned in the sky does not accurately unveil the seasons from a temperature standpoint. The beginning of December marks the beginning of wintry temperatures, so to a meteorologist this is the more realistic start to the season. How the World Celebrates Winter Solstice has influenced every culture in the world, and its influence has resulted in many unique forms of celebration. Yalda Night – The Iranian celebration, Yalda Night, considers this day to be a victory of light over darkness, adopted from the ancient Persian belief that the day is the birthday for the sun god, Mithra. It is customary to stay up all night to welcome the first light (sunrise) of the new season. Soyal – The Hopi, Pueblo, and Zuni tribes welcome the spirits of the mountains during Soyal. The Kachinas, as these spirits are called, offer protection, hope, fertility, and other good things. This is a celebration of purification and thanks. Dongzhi – This festival, celebrated in China, Dongzhi, symbolizes the end of harvest season and the \u201carrival of winter\u201d. This three-day (December 21-23) holiday pays tribute to the year behind while looking forward to the year ahead. Saturnalia – The God of Saturn was traditionally depicted as bound by his feet in statue, but during this Roman festival he was set free along with all slaves and moral law breakers. This week long celebration was a time where anything goes, and all would be forgiven. Inti Raymi – This ancient celebration of the Incas began as a way to honor the sun god with feasts and sacrifices. The celebration was celebrated in June (their winter) but was later banned by the Conquistadors. Today, the holiday has been revived with many of the old traditions, including \u2018mock\u2019 sacrifices. Joloblot\/Thorrablot – Besides having a wide assortment of menu items, like sheep\u2019s head, cured shark, and testicles, this sacrificial Iceland celebration is about paying it forward to the Viking weather spirit, Thorri. Late-night festivities also include storytelling and dancing. Lohri – The Punjab religion in South Asia calls their Winter (harvest) Solstice, Lohri. The significant name behind much of the festivities is Dulha Batti, a Muslim robber who worked much like Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and distributing his booty to the poor and helpless. Pongal – Thailand may not officially recognize this four-day holiday as \u2018mandatory\u2019 for all schools and banks, but they still give the days off for everyone to enjoy. The word Pongal comes from the tradition of boiling as much rice, lentils, milk, jaggery, and nuts as it takes to \u201cpongal\u201d (spill) them out of their pot. This action is said to bring prosperity for the new year. Lantern Walk – Nova Scotia residents keep it simple by welcoming winter with handmade lanterns and a leisurely stroll. Newgrange – Over 5,000 years ago, Irish architects built a passage tomb that would offer the dark stone interior a brilliant golden glow one day out of every year. On December 21, a lottery is drawn for the hundreds of people who travel to the site to witness the phenomenon. The lucky winners get to go inside the burial chamber, which is said to be a magnificent experience whether the sun makes an appearance or not. Mayan city of Tulum – Within the ancient Mayan city of Tulum, stands an assortment of stone structures that appear much the same on any other day, except for the Winter and Summer Solstice. As the sun rises on December 21, the sun catches a hole in the roof of one of the lone buildings, cascading a starburst effect across its walls. Stonehenge – Despite the fact that nobody has ever been able to explain why this massive stone monument was actually built, Stonehenge is the place to be on the morning of every December 22 calendar date. With your back to the entrance, the sun slowly rises until it (hopefully) makes its yearly appearance in the center of the stone circle. A New Start (Death, Pacing, and Resurrection) Following Winter Solstice, the sun will return the next day, staying longer by one minute each day. This has been symbolized as the death of the old and resurrection of the new sun. Some cultures would punish the darkness during Winter Solstice by burning and symbolically dragging it through the streets so that the sun could be reborn into freedom the next day. But let\u2019s not ignore Saturn\u2019s position during Winter Solstice, which is welcoming the sun into its ruling constellation of Capricorn. This is a time to look forward to spring but settle into the reality that we\u2019ve got a number of long nights ahead until the sun overcomes darkness and nudges the early spring flowers from their slumber. So, pace yourself, many Astrologers would say, and remember to conserve energy (and heat) for the long nights ahead. Within the death and rebirth of every Winter Solstice is the opportunity to take advantage of some pacing, and yes, planning too. Astrology plays an important role in your day-to-day life. The planets are responsible for your moods, experiences and more, which is why you should get a psychic astrology reading. Our astrology psychics can…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5954589,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[57,33269],"tags":[7,5881,4290,4802,34234,2062,9476,33406,34233],"cp_author":[],"class_list":["post-5954501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-astrology-numerology","category-holidays","tag-astrology","tag-celebrate","tag-history","tag-holidays","tag-night","tag-sun","tag-winter","tag-winter-solstice","tag-worldwide"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA New Start (Death, Pacing, and Resurrection)<\/h5>\n
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\nCalifornia Psychics is the most trusted source of psychic readings<\/a>. We have delivered over 6 million discreet and confidential psychic readings by phone<\/a> since 1995. More than a prediction, we are your guide for life\u2019s journey. Serenity, happiness, and success are just a phone call away. With over 400 psychics online<\/a> to choose from, you\u2019re sure to find the best psychics<\/a> for you. Call one of our trusted and accurate psychics<\/a> today! Confidential and secure, real psychics<\/a>, accurate predictions, 100% guaranteed.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"