Solstice

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I'd rather be a

Pagan

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Suckled in a creed outworn

The winter solstice, contrary to bloviating idiots, is the "reason for the season".

Historically and mythologically, the winter solstice is why people have celebrated in what we now call "late December". Due to many glitches in calendars, Jesus now got borned on Dec 25 (or Jan 7, Eastern Orthodox calendar!), the "new year" comes either on April 1 (way the hell off) or Jan 1 (about ten days late), or some other random time of year, if you live in China.

The winter solstice, which marks the shortest day of the year - and, next, the days' new lengthening - has been cause for celebration and festivities among agricultural societies since at least the end of the last ice age, if not over the last several fire and ice cycles.

The current mix of "Christian" piety and pagan observance mostly includes these celebrations:

  • Bringing evergreen tree indoors as decorations (pagan)
  • Mutual gifting guilt and anxiety (Walmart)
  • Makin' out under mistletoe (pagan)
  • Getting fat on a feast (pagan)
  • Meeting up with friends and family for above mentioned activites (all)
  • Wondering what it's like in the Southern Hemisphere (none)
  • Burnin' the Yule log with those dear and near (pagan)
  • Briefly caring for those less fortunate and giving to the local soup kitchen (Walmart)

The summer solstice is not so important (unless you want to run around Stonehenge in the buff), since days getting shorter sort of sucks. However, the Catholic Church made sure to cover that holiday too, with St. John's Day falling on June 24th.

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