Celebrating the Winter Solstice

Holiday lights at Edaville.

Where did the tradition of Christmas lights come from? Why do we light artificial candles in our windows and deck our homes in strings of white or brightly-colored bulbs? This modern convention is actually based on very old ways – bringing light to the shortest days of the year, and marking the Winter Solstice, which occurs here in the northern hemisphere on December 21 or 22 (the exact time varies slightly from year to year).

Certainly you’ve noticed how the sun sets a little earlier and comes up a little later each day as we head into November and December. By the middle of the twelfth month, many of us are leaving for work before the sun rises and returning home long after it has set. But we know that this is temporary – that the days will again grow longer . . . and warmer too. Once the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, has passed, daylight hours will increase, and continue to grow throughout the first half of the new year.

Since ancient times, cultures worldwide have considered the Winter Solstice a time for gathering together. Typical late-December rituals include holidays, festivals and celebrations of rebirth, mostly centered on the life cycle, so to speak, of the sun. For example, the Druids viewed the solstice as the time of death of the “old” sun and the birth of a new one, the beginning of the solar year. In the third century, the Roman Emperor Aurelian established December 25 as the birthday of the "Invincible Sun;" this was only part of a more elaborate Winter Solstice celebration. In the year 273, the Christian church selected this same day to represent the birthday of Jesus.

Anthropological studies have concluded that some early tribes feared that, as the days grew shorter and shorter in late fall, the sun would continue to wane, eventually leaving them in permanent darkness. So when the days began to grow incrementally longer once the solstice had passed, there was reason for celebration.

Winter celebrations had a practical purpose as well. The growing season was over. In order to survive the winter and early spring, a community would have to rely on what foods it had saved and stored, as well as what it could obtain by hunting and foraging. Generally, livestock were slaughtered at this time so that they would not have to be fed through the winter. So you can see why this was a time for feasting – it was perhaps the only time of the year that the people could eat fresh meat. In addition, beer and wine made from crops grown earlier in the year had finished their fermentation processes and were ready to consume. If that wasn’t enough reason for having a party, the threat of not living through the winter made it all the more compelling.

Nowadays we have modern conveniences that ensure, for most of us, fresh food in the fridge and the pantry throughout the year. Yet the Winter Solstice and the holidays that fall close to it (e.g. Christmas, Hanukah, Ramadan, Yule, New Year’s) are still opportunities to feast, to celebrate, to bring light to the darkness.

As much as we enjoy them, incandescent Christmas lights are not the most eco-friendly way to bring light to the darkness. Consider the new LED holiday lights, which look them same when lit, but use much less energy. If you’re curious (or simply aiming to be more frugal) you can calculate the cost of your own holiday display. Search online for an energy cost calculator for Christmas decorations, such as the one at http://www.christmaslightsanddecorations.com/energy-cost-calculator.aspx.

Or consider this alternative to Christmas lights, borrowed from Latin American culture. The luminaria, or farolito, is another way to brighten the dark days and nights. Made from small brown or white paper bags partially filled with sand, illuminated from within with a tea candle, farolitos are a Christmas Eve tradition, arranged in rows for maximum effect. You can line your driveway or the sidewalk in front of your home with farolitos, and invite your neighbors to do the same.

Happy Solstice!

Sources: www.circlesanctuary.org; www.wikipedia.org; www.religioustolerance.org

By Kezia Bacon-Bernstein, Correspondent
December 2009

Kezia Bacon-Bernstein's articles appear courtesy of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization devoted to the preservation, restoration, maintenance and conservation of the North and South Rivers and their watershed. For membership information and a copy of their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781) 659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org. To browse 13 years of Nature (Human and Otherwise) columns, visit http://keziabaconbernstein.blogspot.com.

Earth-Friendly Holiday Shopping

Holiday shopping season is upon us. Perhaps it’s due to the economy, or maybe just a desire for a less-complicated December, but many of us are aiming to do less this year. We are trying to figure out what’s essential as we prepare for Christmas, Hanukah, and other winter holidays. For example, my family has decided to keep our Christmas Eve/Day menus simple. Also, we are reminding each other that we “really don’t need more stuff.” Let’s remember that the winter holidays are first and foremost about family, friends and faith.

‘Tis the season for gift giving, though, and there’s the dilemma. How do we choose thoughtful, personalized gifts that communicate the joy of the season without creating more waste? Here are a few suggestions.

A Gift To Improve One’s Carbon Footprint – Consider all the waste that goes into packaging and shipping the products we buy online or purchase at national chains. The alternative -- shop locally! From jewelry to clothing to art to home furnishings, and so much more, there are lots of wonderful gifts to be found within a few miles of home. Some of my favorites include: Local Pottery in Hanover, Woodacre Farm in Pembroke, and The Focus Gallery in Cohasset.

A Gift of Education and Fun – Memberships to museums and other cultural institutions make terrific gifts. Your purchase supports the arts (which tend to get hit hard in a bad economy) and your giftee receives free admission for a year, as well as all sorts of other perks. For young families, consider local favorites like the South Shore Natural Science Center (www.ssnsc.org) or The Children’s Museum in Easton (www.childrensmuseumineaston.org). Or head up to Boston, where there’s something for everyone -- New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Boston Children’s Museum, or any of the art museums.

A Gift to Reduce Junk Mail – A couple years ago, my sister gave my husband and me a subscription to GreenDimes (now called Precycle/Tonic). We gave the company every variation of our names and mailing address we could think of that had ever been used on a piece of mail, and they set to work reducing the amount of junk in our mailbox. It worked! We used to get a ton of glossy catalogs every day from Thanksgiving to mid-December. Now we receive only a few. Check it out at precycle.tonic.com

A Gift to Protect The Environment – A great gift for any occasion is a membership to one of our local environmental organizations. Your donation helps the organization to achieve its goals – land preservation, for example, or cleaner water – while the person to whom you give it enjoys the benefits of membership in the group (discounts activities, newsletters, and so forth). Some favorites of mine: The North and South Rivers Watershed Association (www.nsrwa.org), The Wildlands Trust of Southeastern Massachusetts (www.wildlandstrust.org), The Trustees of Reservations (www.thetrustees.org) and Mass Audubon (www.massaudubon.org).

A Gift To Better One’s Community – What do you give the person who has everything? Who needs nothing? How about an investment in his or her community? Local food pantries, shelters and clothing banks always need financial support. Programs like Marshfield Community Christmas help to improve the holidays of the less fortunate. Plus there are animal shelters, hospice services, programs for senior citizens and veterans . . . the list goes on. Choose a charity your giftee would happily support and make a donation in his or her name.

A Gift For The Soul – When times are tough, what’s the first thing to be dropped from the To Do List? Special treats for oneself. Thus, gift certificates for massage, yoga, acupuncture, a facial, a pedicure -- the things we are reluctant to get for ourselves – are often the most appreciated gifts of all.

Alternatives to Wrapping Paper: While you’re considering the impact your gift-giving will make on the environment this year, also be mindful of the waste generated by the use of wrapping paper. There are several alternatives. You can repurpose magazine pages as wrap for small gifts, or – with your child’s permission – children’s artwork. Paper gift bags, boxes, and ribbon can be reused numerous times before they wear out. My favorite eco-friendly wrap, however, is a drawstring cloth bag. A couple years ago, I crafted a big set of these, in varying sizes, from fabric leftover from various projects. They can be used over and over again, passed on from one person to the next. You can buy them, or if you have the resources, make your own. They’re a lot less work, too.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

by Kezia Bacon-Bernstein
November, 2009

Kezia Bacon-Bernstein's articles appear courtesy of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization devoted to the preservation, restoration, maintenance and conservation of the North and South Rivers and their watershed. For membership information and a copy of their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781) 659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org. To browse 13 years of Nature (Human and Otherwise) columns, visit http://keziabaconbernstein.blogspot.com.