For the past six months, the days have grown shorter and the nights have grown longer in the Northern Hemisphere. But that’s about to reverse itself.
Winter solstice 2021, the shortest day of year and the official first day of winter, is on Tuesday, December 21. How it all works has fascinated people for thousands of years.
First we’ll look at the science and precise timing behind the solstice. Then we’ll explore some ancient traditions and celebrations around the world.
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2021 December 21
Explanation: Welcome to December’s solstice, first day of winter in the north and summer for the southern hemisphere. Astronomical markers of the seasons, solstice and equinox dates are based on the Sun’s place in its annual journey along the ecliptic, through planet Earth’s sky. At this solstice, the Sun reaches its maximum southern declination of -23.5 degrees today at 15:59 UTC, while its right ascension coordinate on the celestial sphere is 18 hours. That puts the Sun in the constellation Sagittarius in a direction near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. In fact, if you could see today’s Solstice Sun against faint background stars and nebulae (that’s really hard to do, especially in the daytime …) your view might look something like this composited panorama. To make it, images of our fair galaxy were taken under dark Namibian night skies, then stitched together in a panoramic view. From a snapshot made on 2015 December 21, the Sun was digitally overlayed as a brilliant star at today’s northern winter solstice position, close to the center of the Milky Way.
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For those who are spiritual but not so religious, you may choose to celebrate the December holiday season differently. The winter solstice is a wonderful way to honor your ancestors, the earth and its creatures, and the birth of a new sun during this special time of year.
So what exactly is this ancient holiday, and how do you celebrate the winter solstice? Spoonful of Comfort answers these questions and offers some new-to-you winter solstice traditions that you and your loved ones can embrace.
Earth experiences the winter solstice when the shortest and darkest day of the year passes and a new, longer day begins. In 2021, for the Northern Hemisphere, the exact time for this change is December 21 at 10:59 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
December 21, 2015 marks the Winter Solstice, which is the official beginning of winter, and the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. But there’s a light at the end of this tunnel — literally! As the temperatures fall throughout the winter, the light grows, representing new hope during a time of darkness.
Ancient solstice festivals were the last big feasts before food became scarce during the harsh winter months. This magical day was celebrated from ancient Rome to China, and by the builders of Stonehenge to the Mayans. In fact, we all remember the Winter Solstice on December 21, 2012, which was the apparent end of the Mayan calendar, causing many to believe the end of the world is coming. Obviously, we’re still here!
Many modern holiday traditions, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s, have their roots in the Winter Solstice celebrations of yesterday. Winter festivals continue today, complete with lights, feasts, dancing and singing, and spending quality time with those we love.
Astrologically, the Winter Solstice marks the moment the Sun — the ruler of the zodiac — moves from adventurous Fire sign Sagittarius to the steady Earth sign of Capricorn. This is the dark night of the year, a day when the Sun appears to stand still. It’s a time for light and laughter, but also deep reflection.
The Sun’s move into steady Capricorn urges us to take some time to look back on 2015 before we make those New Year’s resolutions. What did we do right? What do we wish we’d done differently? Don’t fight the seriousness it brings to the festive holiday season — use it to start 2016 on the right foot! Just make sure to keep some of the Goat’s ambitious energy alive when the Sun makes its next move.
There is beautiful harmony in this song.
Blessed be dear ones.
Recipe by Gerina Dunwich
20 drops musk oil
25 drops pine oil
1 cup oak moss
2 cups dried mistletoe
1 cup dried poinsettia flowers
1 cup dried bayberries
1/2 cup dried rosemary
1/2 cup dried holly leaves and berries
3 crushed pinecones
Mix the musk and pine oils with the oak moss, and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir the potpourri well and store in a tightly covered ceramic or glass container.
(The above recipe for “Yule Ritual Potpourri” is quoted directly from Gerina Dunwich’s book “The Wicca Spellbook: A Witch’s Collection of Wiccan Spells, Potions and Recipes”, page 162, A Citadel Press Book, Carol Publishing Group, 1994/1995)
Midsummer is a celebration of light and life, symbolized by the flame of a candle and the movement of water. A large glass bowl filled with an assortment of floating candles makes a wonderful point of focus for ritual. Choose bright yellow sunflowers, white lilies, and red tulip-shaped candles. Have each person participating in the ritual inscribe his or her desire, with a pin, on a candle. Have each person come forward, place his or her candle in the bowl and light it as he makes his wish. Following the ritual, the bowl is placed outdoors, and the candles are left to burn out.
One of the most popular symbols of Midsummer is the Sun Wheel, the turning of which suggests the turning, or progression, of the seasons. The Wheel is decorated with flowers, fresh herbs, and brightly colored ribbons.
The simplest method for making a Sun Wheel is to buy an already-prepared natural-branch wreath from an arts and crafts store. Affix small branches of rowan to form the spokes of the wheel (four spokes to represent the elements and cross-quarter days or eight to symbolize the eight Wiccan Sabbats). Use floral wire to attach fresh flowers and herbs to the wreath. Embellish with brightly colored ribbons. The wheel can be used as the focal point for your Midsummer rites or hung on the front door of your home for decoration.
The shortest day of the year, in terms of daylight, is December 21, the winter solstice. But the days will actually begin to feel a bit longer two weeks before the solstice. That’s because the earliest sunset of the year happens before the solstice, and in 2021, it occurs on Tuesday, December 7.
For more about the shortest day of 2021 click here
8:09 am – 4:23 pm
8 hours, 13 minutes
| Current Time: | Dec 7, 2021 at 4:11:59 pm |
|---|---|
| Sun Direction: | 232.10° SW↑ |
| Sun Altitude: | 1.02° |
| Sun Distance: | 91.578 million mi |
| Next Solstice: | Dec 21, 2021 4:59 pm (Winter) |
| Sunrise Today: | 8:09 am↑ 126° Southeast |
| Sunset Today: | 4:23 pm↑ 234° Southwest |
7:51 am – 3:52 pm
8 hours
| Current Time: | Dec 7, 2021 at 3:19:11 pm |
|---|---|
| Sun Direction: | 226.54° SW↑ |
| Sun Altitude: | 3.30° |
| Sun Distance: | 91.578 million mi |
| Next Solstice: | Dec 21, 2021 3:59 pm (Winter) |
| Sunrise Today: | 7:51 am↑ 127° Southeast |
| Sunset Today: | 3:52 pm↑ 233° Southwest |
7:06 am – 4:28 pm
9 hours, 22 minutes
| Current Time: | Dec 7, 2021 at 10:08:33 am |
|---|---|
| Sun Direction: | 155.25° SSE↑ |
| Sun Altitude: | 22.60° |
| Sun Distance: | 91.578 million mi |
| Next Solstice: | Dec 21, 2021 10:59 am (Winter) |
| Sunrise Today: | 7:06 am↑ 120° Southeast |
| Sunset Today: | 4:28 pm↑ 240° Southwest |
7:04 am – 4:19 pm
9 hours, 15 minutes
| Current Time: | Dec 7, 2021 at 9:02:02 am |
|---|---|
| Sun Direction: | 141.98° SE↑ |
| Sun Altitude: | 15.65° |
| Sun Distance: | 91.578 million mi |
| Next Solstice: | Dec 21, 2021 9:59 am (Winter) |
| Sunrise Today: | 7:04 am↑ 120° Southeast |
| Sunset Today: | 4:19 pm↑ 240° Southwest |
7:19 am – 5:20 pm
10 hours, 1 minute
| Current Time: | Dec 7, 2021 at 8:09:45 am |
|---|---|
| Sun Direction: | 124.20° SE↑ |
| Sun Altitude: | 8.30° |
| Sun Distance: | 91.578 million mi |
| Next Solstice: | Dec 21, 2021 8:59 am (Winter) |
| Sunrise Today: | 7:19 am↑ 117° Southeast |
| Sunset Today: | 5:20 pm↑ 243° Southwest |
6:45 am – 4:43 pm
9 hours, 58 minutes
1st Neptune Retrograde ends
4th New Moon (12:44 AM, MST)
5th Krampusnacht
13th/14th Geminids Meteor Shower
17th Roman Holiday of Saturnalia
18th Full Cold Moon (9:37 PM, MST)
19th Venus Retrograde begins
21st Yule
21st Winter Solstice
21st Zodiac Period of Sagittarius ends
22nd Zodiac Period of Capricorn begins
23rd Celtic Tree Month of Elder ends
24th Celtic Tree Month of Birch begins
29th Full Cold Moon (8:30 PM, MST)
The Sacred Tree Calendar of the Celtic People
Walpurgisnacht – The Night of the Witches
Lupercalia – The Deliciously Lustful Origin of Valentine’s Day
Rites & Rituals – Pagan Ceremonies, Rituals, and Full Moon Celebrations
(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY CORRESPONDENCES POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY)
Working with the different phases of the moon is an important skill that takes a bit of time for Witches to learn. So why not cut to the chase and experiment with the day of the week that is dedicated to the moon in all of its magickal energies and aspects?
Magickally, Monday encourages the lunar energies of inspiration, illusion, prophetic dreams, emotions, psychic abilities, travel, women’s mysteries, and fertility.
Source
Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan
Toady is the longest night of the year. A time of celebration. Deities that are used Father Winter, Kris Kringle, St, Nick to name a few. Herbs ginger, sage, cinnamon. Crystals are emerald, ruby
At the Winter Solstice we reach the depth of darkness with the longest night of the year. So come join us in our celebration. Its time for all of us to come together.
Blessings,
Raven Spirit Walker
Image by Bruno /Germany from Pixabay
A very short explanation of the Holly or Oak Kings Ruling as the Goddess Consort’
For More Information on the Oak King
Scroll Down For More Information on the Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere
I hope these links help you learn more about the different topics.
The Oak has will be born at Sunrise on the Summer Solstice after…
Here the young Oak King fights the tired out Holly King to rule from the Litha until Yule until…
The Holly King is reborn. Now the Oak King is an old man but still fights the Holly king.
The Holly King wins and grows to maturity from the Yule until Litha when the cycle of the battle between the young and older Kings battles repeat themselves for the honor to rule as the Goddesses Consort. The Oak Kings is also in some traditions is known as The Green Man or The Horn God or the God of the Hunt.
I have the Goddess with an infant or toddler. What I cannot find is a picture of the Goddess with an infant or toddler. I have this, I think, a cool idea for a post and need both of these kinds of pictures in order to do it.
Thank you so much for your help. It will be much appreciated.
This is a video showing how to make a Summer Solstice/Litha candle to keep or give as a gift.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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