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Midwinter Celebrations

Winter was always a difficult time, and dread of winter is still a part of our biology. Ancient people felt a need to honor the deities perceived to be in charge of all this, Modern celebrations give us a way to come together and strengthen the bonds that help us navigate tough times.
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Midwinter Celebrations - A Short History
Here is a nice little article about the history of midwinter celebrations.
Found at Delaware Online:

Ancient Worship:

Long ago, people worshiped the sun as a god. His cycles were watched and measured with great care because it was thought the quality of life on Earth changed dramatically according to his whims.

As the season changed and winter fell, survival became much harder for ancient man. Many would not live through a cold winter, when food became scarce. As the days shortened, they feared the sun would disappear completely and leave them helpless in the dark.

So they lighted fires and performed elaborate rituals to ensure the sun's return. They also feasted when the sun reversed its course, and days began to grow long again.

One of the earliest solstice celebrations was the Mesopotamian holiday Zagmuk. When light waned in mid-winter, Mesopotamians would re-enact their god Marduk's battle against the forces of darkness and chaos and then celebrate the victory of light and order.

More than 4,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians called their sun god Ra-Horakhty, later known as Horus. As winter arrived and his appearance became more brief each day, it was seen as a sign that he was growing weak and ill. In late December, when days began to grow longer, they celebrated his recovery and renewed health. They decked their homes with palm fronds, which symbolized the victory of life over death.

Romans honored the god Saturn by celebrating Saturnalia in early December. This festival was followed, on the solstice, by Brumalia, from the word bruma meaning "shortest day."

By 70 A.D., many Roman soldiers had joined a cult around the sun god Mithras, whom they adopted after fighting in Persia, modern day Iran and Syria. Dec. 25 was recognized as Mithras' birthday.

Because Mithras was so popular with soldiers, his cult spread quickly to all parts of the Roman Empire, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, the Balkans and gained a strong foothold in Britain. His temples, called Mithraeums, can be found throughout England and Germany.

In the fourth century, the Roman Emperor Constantine proclaimed Dec. 25 the birthday of Jesus Christ, according to many scholars.

"The popularity of Mithraism in the Roman Empire was probably why the early Christian Church decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus at that time," said Alan Fox, a philosophy professor at the University of Delaware. It was thought that it would be easier to persuade the local people to accept new beliefs if the new religious rituals were superimposed on a holiday from their own religion.

Our Christmas celebrations closely resemble the ancient Roman festivals. People went visiting, gifts were exchanged and feasts were shared. Decorated cookies and cakes were baked and given out to friends. Trees were hung with pieces of metal, and homes were lighted with candles and festooned with holly and other greenery, often in the form of wreaths.
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Midwinter Celebrations - Table of Contents
CHRISTMAS
A Christmas Blessing
A Christmas Salutation
A Christmas Spell for Clairvoyance
Christmas Lore and Superstition
Christmas Ornament Protection Spell
Mistletoe Divination Spell
Decorating The Tree
Pagan Christmas Tree
Spell for the Christmas Lunar Eclipse

THE HOLLY KING
I Am The Holly King
Invoking the Holly King

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Twelve Days of Yule

WASSAIL
Wassail - What is it?
Wassailing The Trees
Wassail Through The Ages
Host Your Own Wassail Party
Wassail Recipe

WINTER SOLSTICE
A Winter Solstice Story for Children
About the Winter Solstice
Celebrating the Winter Solstice
Raven Power for the Winter Solstice
Solstice Story
The Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice Chant
Winter Solstice Potpourri
Winter Solstice Song for Yule

YULE
Herbs and Plants of Yule
Incense for Yule
Ritual for Yule
The Yule Story
'Twas the Night Before Yule
Yule - A Celebration of Light and Warmth
Yule Fire and Ice Reflection Ritual
Yule Log
Yule Oil
Yuletide Holiday Svaijko
Yuletide Incense
Yuletide Potpourri
Yuletide Greetings!

FRAU HOLLE
Frau Holle
The Story of Frau Holle

SOLAR CELEBRATIONS
Birthday of the Unconquered Sun
Hymn To The Sun

MORE SPELLS RITUALS & CELEBRATIONS
Bringing In The Boar
Divination Pudding
Feast of Fools
Figgy Pudding
Greeting Cards
Giving The Gift
King Wren
Mother Night
Rebirth
Something To Think About