Current:Home > NewsIt's the winter solstice. Here are 5 ways people celebrate the return of light -VisionFunds
It's the winter solstice. Here are 5 ways people celebrate the return of light
View
Date:2025-04-18 22:39:07
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! (539)
Related
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- If you're getting financial advice from TikTok influencers don't stop there
- A Crisis Of Water And Power On The Colorado River
- Is price gouging a problem?
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Adidas reports a $540M loss as it struggles with unsold Yeezy products
- Inside Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Blended Family
- Medical debt affects millions, and advocates push IRS, consumer agency for relief
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Why we usually can't tell when a review is fake
Ranking
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- Rupert Murdoch says Fox stars 'endorsed' lies about 2020. He chose not to stop them
- To Equitably Confront Climate Change, Cities Need to Include Public Health Agencies in Planning Adaptations
- Child labor violations are on the rise as some states look to loosen their rules
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- The economic war against Russia, a year later
- Nursing student found after vanishing following 911 call about child on side of Alabama freeway
- Timeline: Early Landmark Events in the Environmental Justice Movement
Recommendation
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Biden and the EU's von der Leyen meet to ease tensions over trade, subsidy concerns
SEC Proposes Landmark Rule Requiring Companies to Tell Investors of Risks Posed by Climate Change
Are Bolsonaro’s Attacks on the Amazon and Indigenous Tribes International Crimes? A Third Court Plea Says They Are
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Black married couples face heavier tax penalties than white couples, a report says
How (and why) Gov. Ron DeSantis took control over Disney World's special district
North Carolina’s New Farm Bill Speeds the Way for Smithfield’s Massive Biogas Plan for Hog Farms