22/12/2020
As the earth completes its annual journey round the sun, and the least sunlight falls on the Northern Hemisphere, so it is Winter Solstice here in Europe and North America. Countless astronomical alignments in ancient structures across the continents show us that the sunrise on the winter solstice was an event of much importance to ancient cultures across Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. It is thought by contemporary archaeologists that the “death of the year” at this time was deeply symbolic and a time of communing with ancestors, of partying and even of sexual orgies. More than one phallic object has been discovered at ancient ritual sites. For a few days, the sun will appear to rise in exactly the same place and the same time. And then, something that must have seemed a godly miracle by many of our ancestors, it begins to rise slightly earlier as imperceptibly, the orbit of the earth begins to lead to longer days and the promise of spring.
Our friends at the Pagan Federation, which is an umbrella group representing various pagan spiritual pursuits and interests, has published a blog post which we think it particularly beautiful at this time, and will appear to the many LGBTQ people who are also interested in the environment. How to honour this time of year (which also includes the Christmas season) without costing our fragile environment. Thanks to the Pagan Fed president Ann Edward.
https://www.paganfed.org/a-yule-ramble-on-a-environmental-note/
