wretched delve

Winter solstice pagan holiday is a celebration that marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. It is a significant event in many cultures and has been observed for thousands of years. The term "solstice" refers to the sun reaching its southernmost point in the sky, resulting in the longest night and the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. This pagan holiday has deep roots in ancient cultures, where people believed in the power of nature and the changing seasons. Many pagan religions and traditions celebrated the winter solstice as a time of rebirth, renewal, and the return of light. In these beliefs, the winter solstice symbolized the death and rebirth of the sun.

In these beliefs, the winter solstice symbolized the death and rebirth of the sun. One of the most well-known celebrations of the winter solstice is Yule, which originated in Germanic and Norse traditions. Yule was a time of feasting, gift-giving, and honoring the gods and goddesses associated with the winter season.

40th Anniversary of the Witch Dungeon Museum

The Witch Dungeon Museum is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2019! The museum has been sharing its award-winning live reenactment and tours of the recreated dungeon since 1979. With reenactments based on historical transcripts from 1692, each visit to the museum offers a thrilling account of the Salem Witch Trials along with information on the dungeon itself.

While the Witch Dungeon Museum is located on Lynde Street, the actual dungeon in 1692 was located a couple of blocks away on Federal Street. Though no longer standing, information on the original site is available today through walking tours that visit the location and seasonal programming by the Essex National Heritage Commission.

The building that houses the Witch Dungeon Museum today was constructed as a chapel for East Church. (East Church is also well-known throughout Salem’s history as the church whose main building is now the Salem Witch Museum and for noteworthy pastor, William Bentley who recorded the day-to-day lives of Salem residents between 1784 and 1819.)

Following a fire in 1902 that led East Church to re-evaluate the need for a chapel in this location, ownership of the building was passed on to the Church of Christ Scientist. Under the Christian Science belief system made popular by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston, the Church of Christ held services in the building from 1908 until 1979 when it was purchased by the Witch Dungeon Museum.

Photo by Jared Charney

Tours of the Witch Dungeon Museum today include a walk-through of the recreated dungeon with life-size scenes showing the conditions the accused suffered in 1692. Along with these depictions, the Witch Dungeon Museum displays a wooden beam saved from retrieved from the original dungeon.

For the past 40 years, the Witch Dungeon Museum has been a hit with local school groups and visitors to Salem, as a unique and informative way to learn about the tragic events of 1692. In 2019 the museum is open daily April through November with performances and tours of the dungeon running 10:00 am-5:00 pm.

The Witch Dungeon Museum is in walking distance to Salem’s downtown attractions, accommodations, and parking, and it’s also along the Salem Trolley route. Get more of Salem’s history into your visit by taking the hour-long tour around town on the Salem Trolley and hopping on and off at the Witch Dungeon Museum, or any of the other 13 stops.

Plan your visit to the Witch Dungeon Museum and save $8 off your admission by getting a combination ticket that also includes the Witch History Museum and the New England Pirate Museum. The Witch Dungeon Museum and Witch History Museums both open for the season on April 1, and the New England Pirate Museum opens in May. Find more information including tour schedules and resources for students at all three museums at witchdungeon.com.

Keep Reading:

• Salem Witch Trials FAQs
• Celebrating 200 Years of Salem’s Custom House
• How to Visit Salem’s Historic Cemeteries

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Salem’s architectural beauty and maritime endeavors are on full display, alongside modern-day witch shops and tourist attractions, but much tangible evidence of the witch trials has disappeared.

It was believed that by lighting fires and candles, people were helping to bring back the sun's light and warmth. In addition to Yule, other pagan traditions and ceremonies focused on celebrating the winter solstice. For example, the ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to the god Saturn. This holiday lasted for several days and included feasting, gift-giving, and the temporary suspension of social norms. Similarly, the ancient Celts celebrated the winter solstice with a festival known as Alban Arthan, which means "Light of Winter." It was a time to honor the Celtic god of the sun by lighting bonfires and bringing evergreen boughs into homes as a symbol of eternal life. Today, the winter solstice is still celebrated by many pagans and witches who follow various earth-based spiritual traditions. These modern celebrations often involve rituals, meditations, and gatherings to honor the changing seasons and connect with nature's cycles. In conclusion, the winter solstice pagan holiday is a time to celebrate the return of light and the rebirth of the sun. It is a time to honor nature, embrace the darkness, and look forward to the coming of spring. The traditions and rituals associated with this holiday have been passed down through generations and continue to be celebrated in various cultures around the world..

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