Since people first noticed the change in the length of the day, the longest night of the year has been celebrated as a holiday. Ancient cultures around the world, from Rome to China, North and South America, had their own customs and ceremonies designed to welcome the return of the sun and the beginning of its march towards light and warmth. Some of them are celebrated today, while many of these traditions we now associate with such winter holidays as Hanukkah and Christmas. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice falls on December 21 or 22, while the longest night of the year in the southern hemisphere falls on June 20 or 21.
Saturnalia
Western culture owes many of its traditional midwinter celebrations - including Christmas - to this ancient Roman solstice festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture and time. Although it all started out as a one-day celebration in December, this pagan festival was later expanded to a weeklong celebration that began on December 17th and ended on December 24th. During this fun and most popular Roman festival, all public affairs were suspended. Schoolchildren were allowed not to attend classes and were even forbidden to punish criminals. During Saturnalia, social norms fell away, as everyone was addicted to gambling, drinking, feasting and exchanging gifts. Even slaves could take part in the festivities and were allowed to take a break from work. Slaves could wear the symbol of liberation, sit at the same table with their masters, use their clothes and accept services from them. Thus, the slaves, as it were, were equalized in these days in rights with their masters, since during the time of Saturnalia there was universal equality.
Saint Lucia Day
This traditional Scandinavian festival of lights honoring Saint Lucia, one of the earliest Christian martyrs, was merged with earlier Norse solstice celebrations after many Scandinavians converted to Christianity around AD 1000. e. According to the old Julian calendar, December 13 (the date traditionally held to be the day that Lucia was killed by the Romans in 304 AD for bringing food to persecuted Christians hiding in Rome) was also the shortest day of the year. As a symbol of light, the memory of Lucia and her holiday mingled with the natural traditions of the solstice, such as bonfires, which were practiced to scare away spirits during the longest and darkest night of the year. On Saint Lucia's Day, girls in Scandinavia wear white dresses with red sashes and wreaths of candles on their heads. This is a tribute to the fact that Lucia wore a candle on her head, as her hands were busy with food for Christians.
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Dongzhi
The Chinese Dongzhi Winter Solstice Festival welcomes the return of longer days and a corresponding increase in positive energy. It is celebrated six weeks before Chinese New Year. The festival has its own meaning for many people. It is believed that it is on this day that everyone becomes one year older. Dongzhi may have originated as a harvest festival where farmers and fishermen found the opportunity to spend time with their families at a meal. Today Dongzhi is not an official holiday, but it remains an occasion for families to unite to celebrate the past year. The most traditional dishes for this holiday in southern China are glutinous rice balls known as tang yuan, often cooked in sweet or salty broth. Inhabitants of the North China Plains enjoy meat dishes,which are especially nutritious for the midwinter feast.
Shab-e Yalda
On the longest night of the year, Iranians all over the world celebrate the triumph of Mithra (the sun god) over darkness in the ancient festival of Shab-e Yalda (which translates as "Night of birth"). Traditionally, people come together on the longest night of the year to protect each other from evil, light bonfires to light their way through the darkness, and do charity work. Friends and family members exchange wishes, treat themselves to nuts, pomegranates and other holiday food, and recite poetry, especially the work of the 14th century Persian poet Hafiz. Some stay awake all night to celebrate the moment the sun rises, chasing away evil and announcing the arrival of good.
Inti Raimi
In Peru, as in the rest of the southern hemisphere, the winter solstice is celebrated in June. The Inti Raimi (Sun Festival), held at the solstice, is dedicated to honoring Inti, the sun god. Before the Spanish conquest, the Incas fasted for three days until the solstice. Until dawn on the fourth day, they walked to the ceremonial square and waited for the sunrise. At sunrise, they bowed before him, offering golden cups of chiche (sacred beer made from fermented corn). During the ceremony, animals were sacrificed, including lamas. The Incas used a mirror to focus the sun's rays and light a fire. After the conquest, the Spaniards banned the Inti Raimi festival, but it was revived in the 20th century (with fictitious sacrifices) and is celebrated to this day.
Shalako
For the Zuni, one of the Pueblo peoples in western New Mexico, the winter solstice marks the beginning of the year and is celebrated with a solemn dance called the Shalako. Indians fast, pray and watch the sunrise and sunset for several days before the solstice. The fun and dancing begins at sunrise when 12 intricately masked dancers perform Shalako. After four days of dancing, new dancers are selected for the next year, and the annual cycle begins again.
Soyal
Like the Zunis, the Hopi of northern Arizona are believed to be descendants of the mysterious Anasazi, ancient Native Americans who flourished in 200 BC. e. Since the Anasazi left no records, we can only speculate about their winter solstice rites, but the placement of stones and structures on their ruins, such as Chaco Canyon, indicate that they certainly had a great interest in the movement of the sun. Soyal's nightly ceremony begins with bonfires, dancing, and sometimes gifts. Sun-watching is important to Hopi not only in the tradition of celebrating the winter solstice. It also regulates the planting of crops and the observance of ceremonies and rituals throughout the year.
To-ji
In Japan, the winter solstice is not a festival, but a traditional practice centered around the start of the new year and associated with health and good luck. This is a special, sacred time of the year for farmers who welcome the return of the sun to nourish their crops after a long cold winter. People light bonfires to encourage the sun to return; huge bonfires burn on Mount Fuji every December 22nd. During the winter solstice, it is a widespread practice to take a warm bath with a citrus fruit scent, said to ward off colds and promote good health. Many public baths and hot springs leave citrus fruits in the water during the winter solstice. Many Japanese people also eat kabocha squash, known as Japanese pumpkin, as it is believed to bring good luck.
Anna Pismenna