Today is the Winter Solstice, the ancient cosmic event on which
the festival of Christmas was based. But behind the history of the Christmas
festival lies a fascinating story of cultural theft both ancient and modern.
We have Coca Cola to thank for the modern day image of Father Christmas.
Until the 1930s, Saint Nicholas, the gift-giver, had always been depicted in
green. Artist Haddon Sundblom painted him in Coca Cola's corporate colours
and the jovial red-clad image we now know was born. The company's action was
merely following a well-established tradition of 'cultural theft'
surrounding our mid-winter solstice festival.
In Roman times, solstice celebrations became Saturnalia, in honour of
Saturnus, the harvest god, and Mithras, the ancient god of light. It was a
form of sun worship that came to Rome from Syria. The festival announced that
winter is not forever, that life continues, and it was an invitation to stay
in good spirit.
In 274AD, solstice fell on December 25. Roman Emperor Aurelian proclaimed the
date as 'Natalis Solis Invicti,' the festival of the birth of the invincible
sun. In 320AD, Pope Julius I specified December 25 as the official date of
the birth of Jesus Christ. In 325AD, Constantine the Great, the first
Christian Roman emperor, finally changed the ancient solstice celebrations
into Christmas, announcing that it would be an immovable feast, officially
celebrated as the birth of Christ.
To pagans, it is also called Yule, the day a huge log - the Yule Log - is
added to a bonfire, around which everyone would dance and sing to awaken the
sun from its long winter sleep.
Robert Milne, a Wiccan - or 'white witch' - who will be celebrating
tonight, explains: "At the precise moment of the solstice, 7.21pm, small
groups of people in Britain and throughout the world will be gathered
separately but globally in common worship and celebration. In northern climes
they will be, ideally, outdoors in woodland glades, dressed in warmest
clothing. If such a location or back garden is not available, then they will
assemble in a private home.
"They will be grouped in a circle, which occasionally they will collectively
rotate in a deosyl (clockwise) direction, sometimes earnestly and solemnly,
yet also merrily and joyfully. They will hold candles with which to pierce
this darkest and longest of all nights, to receive this tiniest symbol of
warmth, and to arouse intrinsic feelings of hope that light, warmth, and new
life will soon return.
"The Wheel of the Year reaches its lowest point and the shortest day, as the
Sun, the patriarch, the God, the Father, has left us and gone away on his
annual travels.
"Yet the temporary stillness and contemplation at such group circles also
holds the magickal knowledge that after every ending, such as the Winter
Solstice, there is always a new beginning, that termination is always
followed by a commencement, that rebirth is always the consequence of death.
"Such Cosmic law has been known to pagans throughout history, and is still
practised today by increasing numbers of Wiccans (male and female witches)
and Druids.
"There are eight major annual festivals - four solar and four lunar. As a
solar festival, Wiccan ritual at the Winter Solstice circle emphasises Male
Divinity, where the new King is born as the Sun God begins his return. Trees
and foliage are decorated in bright ribbons and streamers. Coloured candles
are placed at cardinal points around the circle to acknowledge the four
elements of air, fire, water, and earth. Union of such four energies develops
the fifth element of Spirit."
Are you interested in taking part in research into astrology and infertility?
Pat Harris, MSc., is researching a PhD in the application of astrology to health psychology at the University of Southampton, UK. She is looking at factors, astrological and psychological, that might correlate with the success and failure of treatment for infertility.
I am also looking for volunteers among women who are already pregnant without the aid of fertility treatment and who would consider taking part in my research.
If you are a woman who has undergone fertility treatment (e.g., IVF or IUI, etc.) in the past or are planning to, in the future your experiences could be very helpful. If you would like to know more about the study please contact Pat Harris on [email protected] for more details.
Astrology and caesarean births
Wendy Stacey is currently carrying out research on caesarean births and how it may influence the Astrological birthchart. She is in need of data, and would be grateful if anyone who was born by caesarean, or is a mother of a caesarean birth, would be willing to send their birth data to her. The data required is the date of birth, place of birth and exact time of birth. No other information is required for the research and all replies will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
To send your details please email: [email protected]
Thank you for your assistance.
