Winter Solstice and Superstitions
By Anna
@LadyDuck (458006)
Switzerland
December 21, 2022 6:32am CST
Today is the Winter Solstice, the day when earth's poles reach their maximum axial tilt away from the Sun and today winter starts.
According to an ancient middle oriental superstition the "Dark Spirits" walk the earth during "the longest night of the year".
The roots of this superstition can be found in Celtic and Germanic folklore.
Today, the sun hits its southernmost point before ascending north again. For this reason, the ancient people believed that the sun stopped moving during the solstice.
In fact the word "solstice" comes from Latin and means "sun standing still".
For the good news, from tomorrow we gain a little less than a minute of light in the evening.
Do you have special traditions to celebrate the start of winter?
The photo is the winter solstice Druids' ceremony in Stonehenge
95 people like this
97 responses
@snowy22315 (169930)
• United States
21 Dec 22
I did not know that. I knew there were some traditions around the summer solstice though. Christmas is the only winter tradition that people I know observe. It comes near the solstice.
9 people like this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
7 Jan 23
@Treborika The ancient Romans celebrated their Gods and they had special celebrations during the summer and winter solstice.
2 people like this
@Treborika (17259)
• Mombasa, Kenya
7 Jan 23
@LadyDuck What are the celebrations for. I think this was long gone along time ago.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Dec 22
Nothing in our families. But I am always happy to see the days start getting longer.
9 people like this
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Dec 22
Interesting - I didn't know about that superstition! I can only think of the traditional winter holidays/celebrations here . . . but nothing for the start of winter itself. Plus living where I do, there is no line of the weather turning into winter . . . sometimes it's hard to believe it's even winter 
.
.6 people like this
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Dec 22
@LadyDuck I was going to say too, that it has been chilly, but from earlier in the week it has been warming up. Apparently by the weekend it should be above mid 70F here. Isn't it usually snowy and wintery out there by now? It really makes me wonder what Mother Nature has in store for next year for all of us.
4 people like this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Dec 22
@LadyDuck As I have often said none of these things are extremes here.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
22 Dec 22
@allknowing We are lucky to have a warm December, let's hope not to have a very cold January.
5 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86757)
• United States
21 Dec 22
This is a lovely photo..so spiritual Anna.
The dark beings however, roam around this apartment complex also
4 people like this
So glad to see your post Anna.
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jan 23
It is 4:30 PM here and I am so glad to see it staying lighter. Darkness at 5 PM has always bothered me. This was interesting information about Solstice.
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
15 Apr
@DeborahDiane I hope that James and Dianne will come back to myLot. Dianne showed up just before Christmas after a long time and disappeared. James is not around from many months. Also DE is missing from months. 
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
15 Apr
@LadyDuck & DeborahDiane It's nice to be remembered! We are both well (now) after cancer treatment during the Pandemic for Anne and a surprise I got when I went to have a knee pain checked. My pulse rate was 39 (though I felt fine) and so was sent to the ER where I was admitted and was given a Pacemaker the next day. It's working well and I feel as great as ever, doing a lot of fitness walking and spending three to five hours day working on or reading about poetry. There are so many places to submit and so many people submitting that publication is a rare thing, but it's fascinating and keeps my mind working a lot.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
22 Dec 22
No winter traditions here, except to stay inside and keep warm. Glad to see us switch back to lengthening days, though.
3 people like this
@jobelbojel (34729)
• Philippines
22 Dec 22
I heard about the solstice but did not know where it originated until now. Thank you for sharing.
3 people like this
@jobelbojel (34729)
• Philippines
29 Dec 22
@LadyDuck Yeah, that's why it am seeing the light even it's already almost 6pm
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
22 Dec 22
@jobelbojel, me too learned it just now.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
21 Dec 22
Another place that is designed around the solstice is Newgrange in Ireland. At the solstice, the sun shines through and lights the interior. We visited there a few years ago, an amazing place.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
21 Dec 22
No, no traditions for winter solstice that I know about. Nothing in my family.
4 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60337)
• Perth, Australia
3 Jan 23
@LadyDuck wow didn't know any of this. It's rare I actually know any of these interesting facts you share with us! I love learning!
We don't have any traditions. It is Summer here now. When Winter begins, I smile a lot. 
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
4 Jan 23
@VivaLaDani13 I agree, I am glad when myLotters write about their traditions.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60337)
• Perth, Australia
4 Jan 23
@LadyDuck It's very interesting to know. Even if we don't do these things ourselves, it is interesting to learn about what other people around the world do.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
22 Dec 22
I do a little happy dance when the days start getting longer! lololol
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
23 Dec 22
@LindaOHio I am an early bird and this morning I was out shopping and it was as dark as night.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
22 Dec 22
@LadyDuck And I cannot wait until there is more light in the evening!
2 people like this
