Transcript Winter Solstice - Arleta High School

Winter Solstice
A Brief History of Our Winter
Holidays
The shortest day of the year…
While the weather may be getting colder and the nights longer,
winter doesn’t officially begin in the Northern Hemisphere until
around December 21st. Known as the Winter solstice, this is when
for locations north of the equator the sun is the lowest in the
southern sky making it the shortest day of the year.
Winter Solstice
• ‘Solstice’ comes from Latin solstitium, from sol,
"sun" and -stitium, "a stoppage." Following the
winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer
and the nights shorter.
• It has been celebrated in many cultures
throughout the world.
• Predating Christianity by centuries, it was
symbolic to celebrate it with rituals of light & fire.
• It was known as the “birth” of the sun.
The Dongzhi Festival in Asia
The Winter Solstice Festival is one of the most important festivals
celebrated during the dongzhi solar term on or around December 21.
Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get
together. One activity that occurs is making and eating Tangyuan.
The Norse winter solstice tradition of Yule
is the source of our modern term ‘yule log’
referring to the Christmas eve fireplace.
In India, the winter solstice holiday is Makar Sankranti,
which includes kite flying and special treats.
Shabe-Yaldaa, celebrated in Iran and by other Persian
peoples, is a winter solstice tradition from the world’s
oldest monotheistic faith, Zoroastrianism.
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah or “Festival of Lights” is indirectly tied to
the winter solstice because of its timing. It celebrates an ancient victory over
the Syrians in 165 BC, and the subsequent rededication of the Temple in
Jerusalem. It is a holiday celebrated by Jewish people all over the world,
and includes the Menorah candle lighting ceremony and gift giving.
So what is Christmas?
•
Christmas literally means “Christ Mass”, the catholic celebration of Jesus
Christ’s birth.
•
Roman Emperor Aurelian Called December 25, "Natalis Solis Invicti," the
festival of the birth of the invincible sun.
•
In 273 AD, the Christian church selected this date to celebrate Christ’s
birth. The celebration of the birth of the sun was to become the
celebration of the “birth of the Son”.
•
In 325 AD Emperor Constantine the Great officially created the holiday of
Christmas to be celebrated on December 25th each year.
The fourth century catholic bishop of Myra, St. Nicholas, showed his devotion
to God in extraordinary kindness and generosity to those in need. Our modern
day jolly Santa Claus is derived from his legend.
•
Regardless of the variety of beliefs and traditions, we can agree that
mostly everyone looks at this time of year as a time to rejoice and unite
with each other.
•
It’s a time of generosity, a time to share good friends, good food, good
gifts, and most importantly, goodwill!