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The Pagan calendar wheel is a cyclical calendar used by many modern Pagan and Wiccan practitioners to mark the passage of time and the changing seasons. In 2022, this calendar will continue to follow the natural rhythms of the Earth and the cycles of the moon. The wheel is divided into eight Sabbats or holidays, which are celebrated throughout the year. These Sabbats are based on the solstices, equinoxes, and the midpoints between those days. In 2022, the Pagan calendar will observe the following Sabbats: 1. Imbolc (February 1st): This Sabbat marks the beginning of spring and celebrates the return of light and the growing strength of the sun.

An iconic part of the winter solstice is the yule altar. The purpose of the altar is to honor the return of the sun, so one of the most important items is a candle that symbolizes the sun—ideally a golden-, silver-, or yellow-hued candle. Fill the altar with symbols of winter like pinecones, evergreen boughs of fir and cedar, and wreaths, and you can even add a yule log as a finishing touch. Make sure to cleanse the altar with sage or sweetgrass.

In ancient pagan cultures, evergreens were associated with protection and prosperity, making them popular choices for celebrating the end of the year and the beginning of winter. According to Aztec mythology this month corresponded to the defeat of the moon, Coyolxauqui, by her younger brother Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec sun deity.

Imbolc (February 1st): This Sabbat marks the beginning of spring and celebrates the return of light and the growing strength of the sun. 2. Ostara (March 20th): Also known as the Spring Equinox, Ostara represents the balance between day and night and the awakening of life in nature.

The Magical History Of Yule, The Pagan Winter Solstice Celebration

The Charnwood Grove of Druids gather for a public winter solstice ritual on Beacon Hill near Loughborough, Britain December 18, 2016.

In 2016, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will begin on Wednesday, December 21 at 5:44 EST. To calculate the turning point in your time zone, click here.

Officially the first day of winter, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. This is the longest night of the year, meaning that despite the cold winter, the days get progressively longer after the winter solstice until the summer solstice in 2017.

The winter solstice is celebrated by many people around the world as the beginning of the return of the sun, and darkness turning into light. The Talmud recognizes the winter solstice as “Tekufat Tevet.” In China, the Dongzhi Festival is celebrated on the Winter Solstice by families getting together and eating special festive food.

Until the 16th century, the winter months were a time of famine in northern Europe. Most cattle were slaughtered so that they wouldn’t have to be fed during the winter, making the solstice a time when fresh meat was plentiful. Most celebrations of the winter solstice in Europe involved merriment and feasting. In pre-Christian Scandinavia, the Feast of Juul, or Yule, lasted for 12 days celebrating the rebirth of the sun and giving rise to the custom of burning a Yule log.

In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, to honor Saturn, the god of agricultural bounty. Lasting about a week, Saturnalia was characterized by feasting, debauchery and gift-giving. With Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, many of these customs were later absorbed into Christmas celebrations.

Revelers celebrate the winter solstice at Stonehenge on December 22, 2015. Stonehenge is a celebrated venue of festivities during the winter solstice - the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere - and it attracts thousands of revelers, spiritualists and tourists. Druids, a pagan religious order dating back to Celtic Britain, believe Stonehenge was a center of spiritualism more than 2,000 years ago.

One of the most famous celebrations of the winter solstice in the world today takes place in the ancient ruins of Stonehenge, England. Thousands of Druids and Pagans gather there to chant, dance and sing while waiting to see the spectacular sunrise.

Pagan author T. Thorn Coyle wrote in a 2012 HuffPost article that for many contemporary celebrants, solstices “are a chance to still ourselves inside, to behold the glory of the cosmos, and to take a breath with the Sacred.”

In the Northern hemisphere, friends gather to celebrate the longest night. We may light candles, or dance around bonfires. We may share festive meals, or sing, or pray. Some of us tell stories and keep vigil as a way of making certain that the sun will rise again. Something in us needs to know that at the end of the longest night, there will be light.

In connecting with the natural world in a way that honors the sacred immanent in all things, we establish a resonance with the seasons. Ritual helps to shift our consciousness to reflect the outer world inside our inner landscape: the sun stands still within us, and time changes. After the longest night, we sing up the dawn. There is a rejoicing that, even in the darkest time, the sun is not vanquished. Sol Invictus — the Unconquered Sun — is seen once again, staining the horizon with the promise of hope and brilliance.

This year the Circle Sanctuary, a prominent U.S. Pagan organization headed by Selena Fox, will observe Winter Solstice Eve with a celebration on Tuesday, December 20, complete with guided meditation and candlelight rituals.

Correction: Previous versions of this article incorrectly referenced a Nordic “sun god.” While the sun was venerated in pre-Christian Scandinavia, there’s no major tradition of a male sun deity in Norse mythology.

The Charnwood Grove of Druids gather for a public winter solstice ritual on Beacon Hill near Loughborough, Britain December 18, 2016.

3. Beltane (May 1st): Beltane honors the fertility of the Earth and the union of the God and Goddess. It is a time of celebration and merriment. 4. Litha (June 20th): Litha, also known as the Summer Solstice, is the longest day of the year. It celebrates the peak of summer and the power of the sun. 5. Lammas (August 1st): Lammas, or Lughnasadh, marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is a time to give thanks for the bounty of the Earth and to celebrate the first fruits of the harvest. 6. Mabon (September 22nd): Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, represents the second harvest and the balance between light and dark. It is a time to reflect on the abundance of the year and to prepare for the coming winter. 7. Samhain (October 31st): Samhain, also known as Halloween, is considered the Pagan New Year. It is a time to honor and remember ancestors and to celebrate the thinning of the veil between the living and the dead. 8. Yule (December 21st): Yule, or the Winter Solstice, is the shortest day of the year. It marks the rebirth of the sun and the return of light and warmth. Throughout the year, Pagans and Wiccans will also celebrate the phases of the moon, which have a significant influence on their practices and rituals. The Pagan calendar wheel in 2022 will continue to provide a framework for connecting with the natural world and honoring the cycles of the Earth. Note: The dates mentioned above are based on the commonly used Gregorian calendar and may vary based on individual traditions and regional practices..

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