Today is winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. In the days before fossil fuels routinely lit our nights, winter solstice was celebrated as the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.
Imagine how vulnerable our long-ago human ancestors were as the days grew colder, darker and shorter. They struggled to protect themselves from the bitter elements; they carefully rationed the food they had saved from summer and autumn. Surviving the winter was by no means a given. Winter meant death for many.
And so for the life-giving sun to return, for the days to start growing longer again was a time of great celebration. Winter solstice meant rebirth. It was a holy day (the origin of the word holiday). For our ancestors, winter solstice was a turning-point of hope as great as . . . . . well, as great as the birth of a savior for humanity. As great as the later birth of Christ.
Over many years, the pagan Birthday of the Unconquered Sun became the Birthday of the Unconquered Son. Our modern Christmas is a direct descendant of the pagan winter solstice. In both holy days, we are celebrating hope in the darkness, and our connection with a life-giving force much greater than ourselves.
Happy birthday to our beloved Sun and Son.
Related Posts:
- Winter Solstice And The Unconquered Sun And Son
- Happy Summer Solstice! Unthreatened By Pagans
- Easter, The Earth And The Great Turning
- Happy Hybrid Easter!
- Regeneration In The Growing Darkness
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What a beautiful post - thanks for sharing this!
my boyfriends mother does not celebrate christmas because she said its a pagan holiday. This has helped me understand where she’s coming from