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Solstice Studies for American History


Winter Solstice Symbols The Yule Log, candles, mistletoe and other icons of the Christmas season are borrowed from the Solstice celebration. While mostly viewed as decorative in nature today, these items had deep symbolic significance to the elder faith. The Yule Log By lighting a fire, the ancients were acknowledging the return of the sun, warmth and light, which was marked by the lengthening of days and the promise of the coming spring. In pagan belief, for good luck, the Log should be lit on the first try and must burn for twelve hours. Mistletoe The “kissing bush” actually was one of a group of evergreens such as holly, rosemary, pine and yew. Since these and other coniferous plants flourished during the winter months, they became symbols that life continued its cycle even in the coldest and shortest of days. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe actually seems to have its origins in the late 18th century; interestingly, the actual bough could have been holly or some other evergreen as well as mistletoe. Ultimately, however, it was the bright berries and rich green color that could withstand the harshness of winter that made mistletoe the favorite. Candles As with most belief systems, the use of candles by the ancients symbolized light, focused the spirit and marked the belief that those beings of light, warmth and new life, God and Goddess, would again turn the Great Wheel and the spring would come again. The Feast Food has been associated with winter celebrations—Saturnalia of the Romans, the Solstice, or Christmas dinner—since time out of mind. In those distant times, the winter would have meant lean months when subsistence meant surviving on the last of the crops and meat harvested during the fall. To partake from this larder in honor of the run of the sun was to reaffirm the faith in God and Goddess to return light and warmth to the world.