The Winter Solstice 2024 is almost here on December 21. Read more about the Winter Solstice and get inspiration for how you can celebrate and create your own ritual where you weave in herbs and the four elements, this special and magical time.
"The seed is in the ground."
Now may we rest in hope,
while darkness does its work."
-Wendell Berry
What is meant by the winter solstice?
The winter solstice always falls on December 21 or 22. It's the darkest day and longest night of the year. After that, it turns. So right now we're heading deeper and deeper into the darkness, as far as we can. Then the days start to get longer again. Only until the summer solstice - the brightest day and shortest night of the year.
If you want to celebrate the winter solstice at an exact time on December 21, 2024, the break will take place at 10:00 Swedish time. I have a couple of sources that confirm this time (Source: svenskahogtider.com), but no more than that. Therefore, take the information with a pinch of salt. But it may be enough to know that the winter solstice is not a date, but rather an exact time of day when the sun reaches its lowest point.
What have the ceremonies surrounding the winter solstice looked like and are they still celebrated?
The Winter Solstice was celebrated by pagan groups, especially in the northern part of Europe. Various traditions and ceremonies have since merged with the Christian celebration. However, some traditions still live on. Often we can find these traditions in the Baltic countries, where they have preserved much of the pagan celebration.
In the Baltic countries, both the winter and summer solstices are big celebrations. Both of these dates are said to be extremely auspicious for predicting the future. If you do certain rituals, your wish will come true more easily. For example, if your wish is to get married, stand with your back to the fire. Bend down and look at the fire through your legs, and then you might see an image of him :-) ( Winter Solstice Traditions in Latvia - Let the Journey Begin ).
Another tradition is to dress up in masks. For example, as an animal or a supernatural being. Then you go in a procession from house to house. It is said that it brings luck to the household to be visited by the procession and that it chases away evil spirits.
In Swedish peasant society there is no evidence that the winter solstice itself was celebrated or given special attention. A widely held belief is that during pre-Christian times (Viking times) a sacrificial feast would have been celebrated at this time, which is sometimes claimed to be a precursor to Christmas in the Nordic countries. Traditionally, we celebrated Christmas Eve at other times of the year. The Old Norse Christmas was probably celebrated at midwinter (in January). winter solstice instead of Christmas Eve. In the same way, we actually celebrated Midsummer on the summer solstice and not, as now, on Midsummer Eve.
Celebrate the winter solstice with your own ritual
What do you do when you want to start celebrating a holiday, but there aren't really any traditions to lean on in your family or with friends? Simply start celebrating yourself. Maybe you'll pick up some over time.
Suggestions for your own ritual to celebrate the winter solstice:
♡ 1. Celebrate outdoors
Cold? Probably. But there's something special about being outside for a while in the dark. Maybe alone. Bundle up and get ready. Find a secluded spot in your garden or in the woods. It might look a little strange to passersby, but they'll put up with it.
♡ 2. Weave in the four elements
Water, earth, fire, air.
It's so nice to celebrate the winter solstice with fire. If you can't light a fire, have a small candle with you. Have a glass of water with you, unless it's snowing outside. The air swirls around you. All that's left is to choose your element, earth.
♡ 3. The element earth - choose your herb
As the element earth, I usually choose an herb or something I have baked or created. I want to offer this in the fire, back to the earth.
All plants have their own special energy. The more you spend time with an herb, the more you will understand about it. Layer after layer and then you reach the core. To the innermost essence of the plant. If this is also your starting point, then you can choose one or more plants for your ritual based on what you are curious about.
Here are some suggestions for herbs that we think go well with the winter solstice. We have chosen herbs that you can easily find in your surroundings.
Pine and Spruce - Use pine and spruce when you want to manifest protection and prosperity. Borrow a small twig from the forest and use in your fire. As you burn the needles, you will be filled with the scent. Perhaps you will see the essence of the herb as the needles crackle in the fire.
Ivy - Ivy reminds us that life continues in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. Use ivy in your ritual when you want to manifest a barrier between you and anything that you perceive to be toxic and that negatively affects you. Ivy can be used in all magic for healing, protection and collaboration.
Birch - Carefully take a small piece of bark from the birch. You may find a piece on the ground. Birch is associated with magic for creativity and fertility. Use it to manifest rebirth, purification and for a new beginning.
♡4. Manifestation
Now you are standing outside, you have lit your fire and have the four elements around you. Bring with you words or thoughts or dreams that you want to manifest. Think for a moment about the past year and what you want to take with you in the light that is now returning. Also think about what you do not want to take with you to the brighter times. Speak your most important words out loud. Burn your element earth. Be in the moment, meditate or be in silence for a while.
The Herb Factory's Winter Solstice Celebration
We at Örtfabriken celebrate the winter solstice every year with our herb sisters. We meet outdoors, each one remotely as our meeting is digital. The distance is too great otherwise. We always choose a fire and one of us is assigned to hold the ceremony. We make it easy for ourselves, otherwise there is a risk that the desire will disappear or that it will be too difficult and cannot be carried out. We have some kind of manifestation. It will be a strong and touching experience. To gather, have the elements with us and gratitude for the world of herbs. In the dark and maybe with snow.
There is also another aspect of the winter solstice that I like. It is a moment outside the moment, when no one else expects anything from me. I can therefore devote myself in peace and quiet to the ceremonial. To the ritual itself. In this way, I have celebrated in my own way, before the coziness and chaos of Christmas sets in.
Do you celebrate the winter solstice?
1 comment
Vi har firat vinter o sommarsolstånd i många år. Den vanliga julen o midsommaren har ju spårat ur. Odlar ekologiskt gör vi också för eget bruk.
Mvh Stella