At the time of the winter solstice (December in the Northern Hemisphere, June in the Southern Hemisphere), ancient people going back to Neolithic times gathered together on the shortest day of the year to light up the long night with the warmth of fire and fellowship.
For instance, in many cultures, the winter festival is known as a “Festival of Lights.” The tradition of decorating with candles or torches goes back to ancient times, when the long, dark nights were difficult and dangerous, especially in agricultural communities. But many of us don’t really know the roots of some of our winter holiday traditions. The gathering of family and friends to celebrate faith and community is a welcome break from the long, dark winter, no matter your cultural heritage. For those of us in the solar business, more hours of sunlight is a reason to celebrate as well! For many ancient cultures, though, December was a time for festivals marking the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and celebrating the beginning of the gradual return to longer days and shorter nights.
In China, it is Dongzhi, and Kwanzaa is a pan-African celebration also observed in December. In the Hindu world it is the time for the celebration of Diwali, and for followers of Islam, it is Eid-al-Adha. In the Christian community, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Did you know that solar energy is at the root of many holiday traditions? December is a time for celebrating faith, family…and the power of the sun!Įach December, people of nearly every culture around the world celebrate a significant holiday.
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