Wiccan winter revelries is a topic that explores the celebrations and traditions of Wicca during the winter season. Wicca is a modern pagan religion that follows a nature-based spiritual belief system. The winter season holds great significance for Wiccans as it represents the cycle of death and rebirth and the balance between light and darkness. During this time, Wiccans partake in various rituals and celebrations to honor the changing seasons and connect with the natural world. **These winter revelries serve as a way for Wiccans to celebrate the winter solstice, embrace the darkness, and welcome the return of the light.** One of the most important celebrations for Wiccans during the winter season is Yule, which falls on the winter solstice.
The joy of the Christmas season combined with the enjoyment of the previous year’s harvest in this agricultural downtime made for feasts and merriment, especially for young people. Ряженые (mummers) pranced around the villages at игрища (something like “fun and games”). But the notion of “in-between” time from the pagan past meant that sometimes the costumes got a bit too devilish, and the fun and games got more than slightly erotic. But happily, everyone could sober up and wash away their sins with a dip in a freezing lake or river on Jan. 6.
The myths and legends behind these gnome helpers are often associated with the very practical job of running a farm and keeping things clean and orderly. After solstice, the darkest night of the year, the renewal of light and the coming of the new year was celebrated in the later Roman Empire at the Dies Natalis of Sol Invictus, the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun, on December 25.
** One of the most important celebrations for Wiccans during the winter season is Yule, which falls on the winter solstice. Yule marks the longest night of the year and signifies the rebirth of the sun. **Wiccans gather to participate in ceremonies that focus on the returning light and the hope it brings for the future.
Yuletide Revelry
Unless you have been buried under the usual horrendous pre-holiday work load or sleeping on the floor of a snowed-in European airport, you know that this week saw a rare coincidence of cosmic phenomena: полнолуние (full moon) combined with лунное затмение (lunar eclipse) at the moment of зимнее солнцестояние (winter solstice). A millennium or two ago, Slavic tribes might have seen this as the end of the world. Today, many Russians saw it as a Very Bad Sign and strongly advised a day of quiet indoor activities, hot soup, and vodka. I complied. Who am I to argue with Russians about celestial omens?
One of my boozy indoor activities was reading up on how pagan winter solstice practices blended with Christmas celebrations into a mix of piety, revelry and ritualistic food. Since the ancient pagans didn’t leave written records, speculation varies, but most scholars agree that the pre-Christian inhabitants of Russia celebrated the start of the new solar year joyfully. But they regarded the period of солнцестояние (solstice or “sun stoppage”) as one of those creepy in-between times when all kinds of malevolent spirits and souls of the dead could slip into the here-and-now. To counter the bad vibes, they made foods of grain that celebrated the fertile earth, like кутья (a sweetened grain dish), or various sun-shaped, pancakey things, like сочни (berry fritters), блины (blinis) and оладьи (thick pancakes).
When Christianity came to the Russian lands, the peasants saw the “rebirth” of the sun as a metaphor for the birth of Christ, and they called Christ Солнце Правды (the Sun of Truth). They kept their ritual foods and called Christmas Eve сочельник, from that fruity fritter called сочень. (In the north, Christmas Eve was called кутейник, from кутья.) The notion of “in-between” time became святки (yuletide), the “twelve days of Christmas” from December 25 until Epiphany on January 6 (before the calendar changes shifted the celebrations ahead 12 days). They lit bonfires both to announce the coming of Christ and to warm the souls of the departed, who had slipped into this world when the sun stopped.
They transformed the Latin word “calendae” (the first day of the month) into коляда to describe the songs ritually sung. These songs were part Christmas carol and part folk ditty with a hefty dose of good wishes for the new (solar) year. Колядовщики колядовали — that is, revelers went from house to house, singing songs of Christ’s coming and blessing the house. The householders thanked the singers and treated them, often with козульки (also called коровки) — cookies made in the shape of animals (like a goat – коза — or cow — корова) and birds. In this version of trick or treat, if the householders were miserly, the revelers switched song gears and extended hearty bad wishes for the coming year.
The joy of the Christmas season combined with the enjoyment of the previous year’s harvest in this agricultural downtime made for feasts and merriment, especially for young people. Ряженые (mummers) pranced around the villages at игрища (something like “fun and games”). But the notion of “in-between” time from the pagan past meant that sometimes the costumes got a bit too devilish, and the fun and games got more than slightly erotic. But happily, everyone could sober up and wash away their sins with a dip in a freezing lake or river on Jan. 6.
From time to time, the Church (and presumably worried parents) cracked down on over-the-top колядование (yuletide revelry). What they failed to prohibit died away under the onslaught of Soviet campaigns against religion and superstition. Now Russians like to celebrate the season with pop songs.
Except for me. I’m making козульки. Got to get ready for a happy new solar year.
Michele A. Berdy is a Moscow-based translator and interpreter, whose collection of columns, “The Russian Word’s Worth,” is published by Glas.
THE world over people always look forward to the next Christmas.
** Bonfires, candlelight, and yule logs are common symbols of the Yule celebration, representing the warmth and light in the midst of darkness. Wiccans also honor and connect with the spirits of nature during this time, expressing gratitude for the gifts of the Earth. **Another significant celebration for Wiccans during the winter season is Imbolc, which falls on February 1st. Imbolc is a time to welcome the coming spring and honor the goddess Brigid.** Wiccans may create altars or perform rituals dedicated to Brigid, seeking her blessings of inspiration, healing, and creativity. Imbolc is also associated with purification and the lighting of candles to symbolize the return of the sun's warmth. In addition to these specific celebrations, Wiccans may also engage in other winter-related practices. **Some may participate in divination or spellwork during the winter season to gain insight and guidance for the year ahead.** Wiccan winter revelries are a time for Wiccans to honor the cycles of nature, embrace the darkness, and celebrate the returning light. These celebrations provide a spiritual connection to the Earth and the changing seasons, allowing Wiccans to find meaning and joy in the winter season..
Reviews for "Winter Solstice Rituals: Celebrating the Return of the Sun"
1. John Doe - 2 out of 5 stars: I was really excited to attend the Wiccan winter revelries event, but I left feeling disappointed. The organization seemed chaotic, with long wait times for activities and unclear event schedules. The vendors were also quite limited, and the merchandise they offered was overpriced. Overall, I was underwhelmed by the event and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah Smith - 1 out of 5 stars: I had heard great things about the Wiccan winter revelries, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately, those expectations were shattered. The event lacked any substantial content or activities. There were only a few stands selling generic Wiccan products and the entertainment was lackluster. Moreover, the location was too small for the number of attendees, leading to overcrowding and difficulty navigating through the event. It was a complete waste of time and money in my opinion.
3. David Johnson - 2 out of 5 stars: I attended the Wiccan winter revelries with hopes of immersing myself in the Wiccan culture and learning more about their traditions. However, I left with more questions than answers. The event was disorganized, and the workshops and presentations were poorly executed. It felt like a missed opportunity to educate and engage attendees on the Wiccan practices. Additionally, the event lacked diversity and inclusion, which was disappointing. I left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this event to anyone seeking a genuine Wiccan experience.