Current:Home > InvestIt's the winter solstice. Here are 5 ways people celebrate the return of light-InfoLens
It's the winter solstice. Here are 5 ways people celebrate the return of light
View Date:2024-12-23 12:46:35
It's officially the start of a new season. Winter solstice, which falls on Thursday in the Northern Hemisphere, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. From now on, the days become longer and nights become shorter.
This year, the solstice occurs at 10:27 p.m. ET, the exact moment the Earth reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun.
But while for some it might be a reason to go to bed early, for many, the day calls for celebration. Since before recorded history, the winter solstice has traditionally meant a time of renewal and ritual for people all over the world.
Here are some ancient winter solstice celebrations from both hemispheres and how they're marked.
Shab-e Yalda
For centuries, Iranians around the world have gathered on winter solstice to celebrate Yalda, meaning birth or rebirth. The holiday dates back to the Zoroastrian tradition, and is believed to be a dedication to the sun god Mithra. Also celebrated in many Central Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, Yalda is a time when loved ones gather to eat, drink, and read poetry through the night and welcome the sun. Nuts and fruits such as pomegranates and watermelons are symbolic, as their red hues represent dawn and life. The holiday represents the victory of light over darkness.
Dongzhi
In Chinese, Dongzhi literally means "winter's arrival," and is one of the solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar. The occasion signifies a turning point in the year when yin energy transitions to the positive energy of yang as the days grow longer. Traditionally celebrated as an end-of-harvest festival during the Han Dynasty, today it is an important time to spend with family and eat a hearty meal of tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) or dumplings, depending on what part of China one lives in.
Inti Raymi
Peru's winter solstice is celebrated in June and honors the Incan sun god Inti (Quechua for "sun"), the most revered god in the Inca religion. Banned during the first years of the Spanish conquest, the festival has since been resurrected and now takes place in the city of Cusco, once the center of the Incan Empire. Festivities include feasts and mock sacrifices that honor historic rituals.
Soyal
For the Native American Hopi tribe in the Southwest, the Soyal ceremony is one of the most important ceremonies of the year. December is the month when protective spirits called katsinas bring the sun back from its long slumber. Lasting up to 16 days, ceremonies include gift-giving, dancing, and storytelling, and are mostly performed in sacred underground chambers called kivas. The festival marks a time for prayer and purification.
Toji
In Japan, the winter solstice comes with several rituals and customs to welcome the return of the sun. One custom that dates back hundreds of years involves taking a hot bath with yuzu, a citrus fruit known for its healing properties. Other traditions include eating a winter squash called kabocha, and foods that contain the "n" sound (like udon), as they are believed to bring good luck.
veryGood! (8)
Related
- NFL Week 10 injury report: Live updates on active, inactive players for Sunday's games
- Police confirm names of five players charged in Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal
- Executive Producer of Eras Tour, Baz Halpin, is mastermind behind Vegas Show 'Awakening'
- Fake and graphic images of Taylor Swift started with AI challenge
- John Robinson, successful football coach at USC and with the LA Rams, has died at 89
- South Dakota food tax debate briefly resurfaces, then sinks
- Jam Master Jay dabbled in drug sales ‘to make ends meet,’ witness testifies
- Car insurance rates jump 26% across the U.S. in 2024, report shows
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight odds will shift the longer the heavyweight bout goes
- Bills go to Noem to criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse images, xylazine in South Dakota
Ranking
- What is ‘Doge’? Explaining the meme and cryptocurrency after Elon Musk's appointment to D.O.G.E.
- Sheryl Swoopes' incorrect digs at Caitlin Clark an example of old-fashioned player hatin'
- U.S. Biathlon orders audit of athlete welfare and safety following AP report on sexual harassment
- Bob Beckwith, FDNY firefighter in iconic 9/11 photo with President George W. Bush, dies at 91
- Why Josh O'Connor Calls Sex Scenes Least Sexy Thing After Challengers With Zendaya and Mike Faist
- Delays. Processing errors. FAFSA can be a nightmare. The Dept. of Education is stepping in
- Horoscopes Today, February 5, 2024
- Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce at Super Bowl Opening Night: Taylor Swift is 'unbelievable'
Recommendation
-
Why Kathy Bates Decided Against Reconstruction Surgery After Double Mastectomy for Breast Cancer
-
Horoscopes Today, February 5, 2024
-
Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets Department Tracklist Seemingly Hints at Joe Alwyn Breakup Songs
-
Service has been restored to east Arkansas town that went without water for more than 2 weeks
-
Trump announces Tom Homan, former director of immigration enforcement, will serve as ‘border czar’
-
U.S., U.K. launch new round of joint strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen
-
Taylor Swift drops track list for new album, including two collaborations
-
Family of Black girls handcuffed by Colorado police, held at gunpoint reach $1.9 million settlement