Berlin 21-12-2009
Various cultures in the Northern Hemisphere, have interpreted their seasons differently.
Winter can be a rather personal or subjective term, but there is a scientific calculated beginning called the Winter Solstice and it has been calculated to the very second each year on the 21st of December.
The Winter Solstice occurs when the earth’s axial slope is at the longest distance from the sun. The actual Winter Solstice lasts only an instant in time, and this year 2009 will occur in Berlin at 1747 Central European time.
Winter Solstice has been celebrated and used like Midwinter to refer to the day on which it occurs – as conversely Midsummer June 21st is called the Summer Solstice.
Since 45 BCE [Before Current Era] the 25th of December was established in the Julian calendar as the winter solstice. In 1582 Pope Gregory the 13th brought the actual astronomical Winter Solstice to around the 21st of December – in line with what we now refer to as the Gregorian calendar which replaced the Julian calendar.
Before Christianity dominated northern Europe , those parts inhabited by Germanic tribes had various feasts relating to this date.
The 25th of December the now universally accepted Christian holiday, seems to have been a default substitution for these pagan Winter Solstice feasts.[In his work ‘The quest for the historical Jesus’ by Albert Schweitzer and research actually allude to the birth the historical figure of Jesus being sometime in the early spring.]
Early Germans – not referring to those who get out of bed before 7 am – but those who lived circa c.500–1000 AD- considered the Nordic goddess, Hertha or Bertha to be the goddess of light.
During the Winter Solstice houses were decorated with fir, evergreen and holly to welcome Hertha’s arrival. In Germanic tribes it was also celebrated with common meals and gift giving.
Whole families or tribes would gather to dine around a common fire place and it was said that Hertha descended through the smoke. It was supposed to assist the elders and those knew the folklore sagas to prophesize the fortunes of all the family members present.
‘Modresnach’ was an old Germanic feast when it was commonly accepted that dreams one had on this night would foretell events in the next year.
Many of the early traditions have continued and are now recognized as everyday Christmas practice.
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35 minutes til solstice!