unicode-range: U+0460-052F, U+1C80-1C88, U+20B4, U+2DE0-2DFF, U+A640-A69F, U+FE2E-FE2F; @font-face { font-style: italic; Interestingly, an Australian Aboriginal legend also refers to the fertility of mistletoe: spirit babies, while waiting to be born, hide in mistletoe in the trees. University of Montana provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. The rain has visited more often and Earth drinks deeply of this sacred elixir. font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; /* latin-ext */ unicode-range: U+0301, U+0400-045F, U+0490-0491, U+04B0-04B1, U+2116; src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjSL9AIVsdO_q.woff2) format('woff2'); The reign of the Sun has waned to bring the shortest day and the longest night. The Lesser Sabbats, which are marked astronomically, are the Winter and Summer Solstices and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. @font-face { font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; font-display: fallback; @font-face { unicode-range: U+0370-03FF; unicode-range: U+0100-024F, U+0259, U+1E00-1EFF, U+2020, U+20A0-20AB, U+20AD-20CF, U+2113, U+2C60-2C7F, U+A720-A7FF; font-style: italic; For decades, scholars have studied the astronomical observations that ancient indigenous people made and sought to understand their meaning. font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; /* latin */ The Sacred Willow src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjQ76AIJsdO_q.woff2) format('woff2'); font-style: normal; font-weight: 200; A long cold winter was a hard time for both people and animals, cooped up inside for months on end as snow fell outside. Winter Solstice Down Under. . The Blackfeet tribe in Montana, where I am a member, historically kept a calendar of astronomical events. In prehistoric times, winter issued extremely harsh conditions and people found basic sustenance in stored food and whatever could be hunted. unicode-range: U+0301, U+0400-045F, U+0490-0491, U+04B0-04B1, U+2116; It is also traditionally a month when the Maya refrain from bathing in order to avoid contaminating the water and allow mother earth a rest. font-weight: 300; Awaken your creative powers and allow your inner vision to create images that generate feelings of thankfulness, faith, warmth, light and fertility the energies typically associated with Solstice. font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; Enjoy the timeless starry nights on Wiradjuri land at Bubbletent Australia. font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; } Similarly, the green pine tree commonly associated with Christmas resonates with the evergreen tree that was part of Yule celebration. src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjSL9AIJsdO_q.woff2) format('woff2'); It is the day with the least amount of daylight hours for the year and for pagans it symbolizes the rebirth of the Sun. Mother Earth possessed the sacred knowledge of life, and in watching and working in rhythm with her patterns and the daily cycle of the Sun, populations flourished by learning to live in harmony with the forces of nature. unicode-range: U+0460-052F, U+1C80-1C88, U+20B4, U+2DE0-2DFF, U+A640-A69F, U+FE2E-FE2F; font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; /* latin */ .a-stats { font-style: italic; src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjQ76AIFsdA.woff2) format('woff2'); } Nature is resting, yet she is also active. font-display: fallback; The summer solstice usually occurs on 22 December, but can occur between 21 and 23 December. font-display: fallback; A population of a new species of Pygmy Sperm whales were hiding in the southern Indian Ocean. font-weight: 600; Out of the darkest and most challenging situations we can choose to grow and evolve, just as a majestic butterfly emerges from the solace of a dark cocoon, awakening and bursting forth into the Suns light and finally exuding the magnificent beauty that has lain hidden within. } } the other hemisphere experiences a summer solstice. This is a celebration, recognising the darkest time has passed and we now move back toward the light. Indigenous Australian culture dates back to what new evidence points could be some 65,000 years. @font-face { } src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX7KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKhdTmvIRcePfuNmo.woff2) format('woff2'); font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; /* vietnamese */ Whether or not the Churchs reasoning was all that straightforward, it certainly was a convenient coincidence especially when Christianity started slashing and burning its way to the Americas in the late-15th century. /* latin */ /* latin */ font-display: fallback; Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Powered by WordPress } unicode-range: U+0000-00FF, U+0131, U+0152-0153, U+02BB-02BC, U+02C6, U+02DA, U+02DC, U+2000-206F, U+2074, U+20AC, U+2122, U+2191, U+2193, U+2212, U+2215, U+FEFF, U+FFFD; unicode-range: U+0000-00FF, U+0131, U+0152-0153, U+02BB-02BC, U+02C6, U+02DA, U+02DC, U+2000-206F, U+2074, U+20AC, U+2122, U+2191, U+2193, U+2212, U+2215, U+FEFF, U+FFFD; @font-face { @font-face { Dates are based on the Gregorian calendar. /* latin-ext */ font-weight: 400; /* vietnamese */ font-weight: 200; Earth's Insights widens the scope of environmental ethics to include the ecological teachings embedded in non-Western worldviews. font-display: fallback; src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjQ76AIxsdO_q.woff2) format('woff2'); unicode-range: U+0460-052F, U+1C80-1C88, U+20B4, U+2DE0-2DFF, U+A640-A69F, U+FE2E-FE2F; unicode-range: U+0000-00FF, U+0131, U+0152-0153, U+02BB-02BC, U+02C6, U+02DA, U+02DC, U+2000-206F, U+2074, U+20AC, U+2122, U+2191, U+2193, U+2212, U+2215, U+FEFF, U+FFFD; Find out more with. @font-face { @font-face { When I think of Yule, its easy to think of the traditional symbols that accompany this time of year in the northern hemisphere like Christmas trees, open fires and picturesque images of snowy landscapes. } Again, they feature in Christmas culture in hymns and decorations. } The Winter Solstice celebrates the birth of a new solar year and the beginning of winter. The Sun and seasons have been central to human survival and ritual and many Indigenous Peoples around the globe had methods of recording their observations of the solstice, and cultural activities associated with this time. /* latin */ On an average the southern hemisphere. Sunrise, sunset and daylight hours Midwinter is nigh and the shortest sojourn of the Sun will be marked and celebrated across the land. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year. font-weight: 600; -webkit-border-radius:3px; The dwindling sunlight evoked fear that the passage of the Sun might fail and leave all in perpetual darkness and extreme cold. Each of the eight celebrations is of equal importance and highlights a different aspect of life while revealing the ever-changing, ever-mysterious face of nature. } That is why in the southern hemisphere the June Solstice is known as the winter solstice or hibernal solstice. font-display: fallback; src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjWr7AI9sdO_q.woff2) format('woff2'); /* greek */ font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; Each year they hold annual harvest festivals and numerous religious ceremonies, including at the winter solstice. src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX7KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKhdTmvIRcdvfu.woff2) format('woff2'); @font-face { Their observations aided their survival and informed food gathering, hunting and tracking seasons. src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjR7_AIVsdO_q.woff2) format('woff2'); @font-face { } font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; unicode-range: U+0102-0103, U+0110-0111, U+0128-0129, U+0168-0169, U+01A0-01A1, U+01AF-01B0, U+1EA0-1EF9, U+20AB; @font-face { Despite their size, sightings of Sperm Whales are rare. } The mother earth and her natural satellites in sync with the time-space continuum. By clicking "submit" you agree to receive emails from Wellbeing and accept our privacy. @font-face { } https://hooks.zapier.com/hooks/catch/12133751/bz59486/ img#wpstats{display:none} Her gentle inhalation has slowed knowingly, and change dances across her as she succumbs to the touch of cold. font-display: fallback; background: #7CA821; And in honouring our own small circles, we can add our voice to both community and global environmental issues. font-display: fallback; You could also consider giving to charities who often struggle at this time of year with many people homeless and sleeping in the cold. font-style: italic; In fact, we have very little reason to believe that Jesus was actually a Sagittarius, and at least one hypothesis holds that the Church chose December 25th due to its convenient correlation with Saturnalia the Roman winter solstice festivities. font-display: fallback; Indigenous customs vary among groups across Australia, but one story that appears in many local traditions is the tale of a great emu that sits in the sky. font-style: italic; font-display: fallback; /* vietnamese */ Each year the solstice falls between 20-22 June for the Southern Hemisphere, while the summer solstice - the longest day of the year - occurs between 20-22 December. font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; } In Australia, of course, the June date of the Winter Solstice sees a splitting from northern traditions as we honour our own southern hemisphere cycles of nature. The Pygmy Sperm Whales were breaching. Winter fruit and veg is abundant with cauliflowers, cabbages, carrots, celery, fennel, broccoli, pumpkins, shallots, tamorillos, rhubarb, citrus, apples, lilly pilly and custard apples all in season now. font-style: normal; Antarctic-based Australian expeditioners have taken a sub-zero polar plunge to mark the winter solstice, keeping the icy tradition alive. color: #CFEA93; font-style: normal; The approach of midwinter is a wonderful time to embrace these rituals of the past, knowing the messages of gratitude, grace and celebration are still relevant and meaningful. /* vietnamese */ font-style: normal; @font-face { background-image:-webkit-gradient(linear,0% 0,0% 100%,from(#7CA821),to(#5F8E14)); font-weight: 400; } font-style: normal; font-display: fallback; Full moon winter solstice six days later. The entire Northern Hemisphere sees the shortest amount of sunlight all year, though how little light you get depends on your location. One way to contribute to the creation of a more abundant and sharing planet Earth is to embrace service, perhaps donating food or clothing, or simply making a pledge to do some volunteer work in the new year. font-display: fallback; It is the tilt which determines the seasons. @font-face { australian aboriginal winter solstice. src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX7KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKhdTm5IVccvfuNmo.woff2) format('woff2'); font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; The Winter Solstice foretells an auspicious event: it celebrates the birth of the new solar year and the beginning of winter. font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; font-style: italic; font-style: italic; @font-face { @font-face { font-style: normal; font-display: fallback; font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; From Solstice onwards, as the Suns hours increased in strength and duration, the imminent cessation of cold and arrival of Maiden Springs blessings of life and food were celebrated. Touted as neo-paganism, the tradition of rites honouring the Earth and her cycles now includes a call to embrace guardianship of this bountiful world in which we live. This festival of inner renewal intimates potential and suggests we often sow the seeds of our life well before we see the outcome. Or as the Zuni Pueblos rituals for all peoples of the earth demonstrate of an ancient understanding of the interconnectedness of the world. HOW LONG IS THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR ? /* cyrillic-ext */ unicode-range: U+0100-024F, U+0259, U+1E00-1EFF, U+2020, U+20A0-20AB, U+20AD-20CF, U+2113, U+2C60-2C7F, U+A720-A7FF; font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; According to Peruvian chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega, Inti Raymi (or Festival of the Sun) was established in the early 15th century by the Inca emperor Pachacutec and was celebrated every year until it was outlawed by Catholic priests in 1535. Again, they feature in Christmas culture in hymns and decorations. src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjR7_AIxsdO_q.woff2) format('woff2'); The term pagan is derived from the Roman word paganus, which translates as country dweller, or people who hold nature and the Earth as sacred. unicode-range: U+0102-0103, U+0110-0111, U+0128-0129, U+0168-0169, U+01A0-01A1, U+01AF-01B0, U+1EA0-1EF9, U+20AB; @font-face { @font-face { /* cyrillic-ext */ font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; The Northern Hemisphere winter solstice was a time of celebration in ancient Europe. unicode-range: U+0460-052F, U+1C80-1C88, U+20B4, U+2DE0-2DFF, U+A640-A69F, U+FE2E-FE2F; One such place was at Cahokia, near the Mississippi River in what is now Illinois across from St. Louis. font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; 5 Indigenous Winter Solstice Celebrations That Honor the Shortest Day of the Year. font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; unicode-range: U+0460-052F, U+1C80-1C88, U+20B4, U+2DE0-2DFF, U+A640-A69F, U+FE2E-FE2F; font-weight: 500; src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjWr7AIVsdO_q.woff2) format('woff2'); src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX7KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKhdTmvIRcdffuNmo.woff2) format('woff2'); Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, University of Montana. The Solstice is known by different terms, including the pagan Yule, the Mesopotamian Sacaea, the Roman Saturnalia and the ancient Greek festival of Kronos; clearly, observance of this cosmic milestone was highly regarded by many early civilisations. font-weight: 300; } unicode-range: U+0301, U+0400-045F, U+0490-0491, U+04B0-04B1, U+2116; font-weight: 100; In many ways, it highlights a wonderful connection between all of humanity: at some point, we have all turned our heads to the heavens and found messages of hope and enlightenment there. /* vietnamese */ font-weight: 300; /* greek */ /* cyrillic */ The June solstice (winter solstice) in Sydney is at 12:57 am on Thursday, June 22, 2023. } The earliest sunset is from the 5th to19th June when the Sun sets at 4:53p.m. font-family: 'IBM Plex Sans'; font-weight: 400; -moz-border-radius:3px; This is a special blog post. font-style: italic; For days before and after the winter solstice the Sun appears to stand still in the sky at its noon-time elevation. font-style: italic; As a child, my grandmother enjoyed attending community dances at the time of the winter solstice. src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX-KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjbLuGaZJSdY.woff2) format('woff2'); src: url(https://fonts.wp.com/s/ibmplexsans/v14/zYX9KVElMYYaJe8bpLHnCwDKjSL9AIxsdO_q.woff2) format('woff2'); font-display: fallback; These men carry the Zuni prayers for rain to all the corners of the earth. The Zuni deities are believed to provide blessings and balance for the coming seasons and agricultural year. Your email address will not be published. Many traditions of ancient cultures and belief systems are being embraced today, as they inspire similar messages of truth and peace. /* latin-ext */ Bugal Wena April 15, 2021 Origine Lore, Seed Dreaming Original Eternity, Primordial Seed. Scholars believe that ancient indigenous societies observed the solar system carefully and wove that knowledge into their architecture. font-display: fallback; @font-face { white-space: nowrap;