In our calendar there are four special days which, long before the dawn of civilization, have been celebrated around the world. These are the two equinoxes and the two solstices. These four days mark the changing of the seasons and, in the ancient world, a change in the tasks of the people. Such is their importance that just about every major religious festival is identified with either a solstice or an equinox.
Equinox means ‘equal day and equal night’. It is when the Sun is above the horizon for exactly 12 hours. One equinox marks the beginning of spring, the other the beginning of autumn. They are also the only days in the year when the Sun rises due east and sets due west.
Solstice means ‘the sun standing still’. The rise and set locations of the Sun are continually moving along the horizon. At a solstice the Sun’s reaches its furthest point north or south of the equator. These mark summer and winter…the days with the longest and shortest hours of daylight.
Most of the traditions of the solstices and equinoxes come from the northern hemisphere. Consequently, down here, they are six months out of sync. On December 21st we have the Summer Solstice. This is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, and our traditions come from the North.
Two thousand years ago this solstice occurred on December 25th. Undoubtably you immediately think of the birth of Christ – Christmas Day. But this is not when Jesus was born. This was the great festival of the winter solstice which was adopted by the Christian Emperor Augustine in AD354 to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Have you ever wondered who Santa Clause is? Why did Rudolf has a red nose? It might come as a shock. For more information and stories about this solstice come along to our special presentation ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ on Saturday December 21st at Stonehenge Aotearoa. Plus, weather permitting, you will view the Sun set on the Summer Solstice Stone.
Richard Hall
Stonehenge Aotearoa