Winter Solstice Traditions of the Ancient Celts, Romans, and Germanic People
Winter Solstice is approaching and for those of us who celebrate this seasonal turning point, the excitement is building. For the ancient Celts, Romans and Germanic peoples, the winter solstice was a time of gathering together and sharing abundance with families and communities enjoying elaborate feasts, drinking, festivities, and merriment. In this article, we will explore the winter solstice traditions of the ancient Celts, Romans, and Germanic peoples.
Celtic Winter Solstice Celebrations
The return of the sun was a central theme in Celtic winter solstice celebrations. Ancient sites, many aligned with the solstice sunrise were of particular importance, such as Stonehenge in England, in Ireland at Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and Loughcrew in Meath, Knockroe Passage Tomb in Kilkenny, and Carrowkeel in Sligo, and in Scotland at the Maeshowe Cairn in Orkney.
These sites were erected by people from a culture even older than the Celts and were believed to hold mystical energies and were used for rituals and ceremonies to honour the rebirth of the sun. They are still used in the present day as the focus of winter solstice celebrations for modern pagan groups.
Many Celtic myths and folktales relate to the winter solstice, and we have already explored some of these through the articles, The Winter Queens, and Kings of Frost and Snow. Another winter solstice folktale from Ireland and Scotland tells the story of Lugh and the Long Night.1 Lugh is known as a skilled warrior, a master of many crafts, and is also a god associated with light, knowledge, leadership and first harvest, or the harvest of grains (Lughnasadh). He fights against the darkness of winter, sometimes represented by the Cailleach at the winter solstice. Lugh uses his wit, strength, and magical abilities to overcome the forces of darkness and bring light back to the world. It was believed that his victory marked the turning point of the winter solstice, when days would gradually become longer, and the power of darkness would wane.
Other stories from Celtic folklore about the rebirth of the sun include the story of the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King, or the Oak King and the Cailleach, as well as the legend of the mistletoe. We will delve further into the story of the Oak King, Holly King and mistletoe in an upcoming article.
As with the autumn and spring equinoxes, the winter solstice was seen as a liminal time when the veil between the worlds was thin, allowing for glimpses into the future and spiritual insights. Various forms of divination and fortune-telling practices were employed during this time, such as scrying, dream interpretation, and the casting of runes or Ogham sticks.
In some Celtic regions, processions and festivals were held during the winter solstice. People would gather, often wearing masks or costumes, and parade through villages and sacred sites, singing, dancing, and playing music. These lively celebrations were believed to chase away the darkness and bring blessings for the year ahead. We will explore these traditions of wassailing, and carolling, some of which are still enacted to this day, in an upcoming post.
Ancient Celts regarded hospitality as a sacred duty, especially during winter solstice gatherings, as it was believed that by opening their doors and generously sharing their blessings, people invited good fortune into their lives. Celtic traditions surrounding the winter solstice bear similarities to the Scandinavian Yule festivities and predate the Christian celebration of Christmas in the northern hemisphere. While the Jutes in Britain, led by the Anglo-Saxon King Ethelbert of Kent, embraced Christianity around 595 AD and eventually converted entirely by 850 AD, the Celtic peoples of Wales, Ireland, and Scotland in the north and west steadfastly clung to their native customs and beliefs. Many old winter solstice customs were adapted and assimilated into the Christian traditions of Christmas. However, many of these Celtic traditions have endured through the ages and continue to resonate in modern times, such as decorating the inside of homes with evergreen plants. An upcoming article will explore the meaning and significance of these plants and of the food traditions for winter solstice feasting.
A revival of old winter solstice traditions is occurring in the Celtic lands of Europe, attending winter solstice celebrations at ancient ceremonial sites and revellers at public processions are becoming increasingly popular. In Wales, groups seeking to revive and reconstruct Celtic spirituality and customs have named the celebration at winter solstice Alban Arthan, to differentiate it from the Christian celebration of Christmas. It is derived from Welsh meaning ‘Light of Winter’ or ‘Light of Arthur’ and involves lighting fires, candles, story-telling, decorating homes with evergreens, rituals or ceremonies related to the coming of the sun and the new year, and to gift-giving.
Sláinte chuig an gheimhreadh!
Traditional Irish toast meaning “cheers to winter!”Ancient Roman Saturnalia
After the Romans conquered Western Europe, they introduced their own winter solstice celebration of Saturnalia, which merged with local traditions. Saturnalia, named after the Roman god Saturnus, was a month-long festival that began on December 17 and reached its climax on December 25 with Sol Invictus, the ‘Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.’ This festive period culminated with the Kalends on January 1, marking the start of the new year. Romans adorned their homes and public buildings with evergreens and bright lights, and the streets came alive with processions and gift exchanges.
During Saturnalia, social norms were turned upside down, and revelry reigned. A mock ruler or Master of the Revels, also called the Lord of Misrule presided over the feasting, with masters serving their servants and normally prohibited activities like gambling becoming permissible. People dressed in animal skins or gender-swapped their clothes. The festivities also included special events, such as Juvenilia a festival dedicated to children.
Amidst these weeks of celebration, a particular day was set aside to honour the sun, whose annual crisis at the winter solstice was closely associated with these winter festivities. This day, known as the Sol Invictus, Day of the Birth of the Unconquered Sun, held great significance in the Mithraic religion, one of the influential mystery religions of the Roman Empire. Mithraism, along with the more public cult of Deus Sol Invictus, competed with Christianity for followers in the late Roman Empire. Interestingly, when the Christian church eventually decided to celebrate the birth of Christ, they chose December 25 as the date, perhaps in acknowledgment of the existing influence of Mithraism and Sol Invictus.
The merging of Roman traditions with local customs during the winter solstice period played a significant role in shaping the celebrations and festivities we observe today at Christmas. We will learn more about the origins of Christmas in the next article.
Winter Solstice Traditions of the Germanic Peoples
The Germanic peoples, including the ancient Germanic tribes and later the Norse and Anglo-Saxon cultures, had rich and vibrant traditions surrounding the winter solstice. One prominent tradition was the celebration of Yule, a festival lasting several weeks that marked the turning point of the year. We will explore many of the Yule traditions in future articles for the month of July. For now, let’s delve into the celebration of Modranicht.
Modranicht was celebrated on the night of December 24 or 25 and was dedicated to honouring and invoking maternal ancestral spirits and goddesses. During Modranicht, people would gather and participate in various rituals and ceremonies to honour their ancestral mothers and seek blessings for the coming year. It was a time of reflection, remembrance and gratitude for the women who came before them. There is limited surviving information about the specifics of the celebration. However, it is believed that offerings were made to ancestral mothers, prayers were recited, and fires were lit to symbolise warmth and protection.
In 725AD, Northumbrian monk Bede Venerablis wrote about Modranicht in his historical treatise, De temprum ratione (English: The Reckoning of Time):
The ancient peoples of the Angli began the year on the 25th of December when we now celebrate the birthday of the Lord; and the very night which is now so holy to us, they called in their tongue “modranecht,” that is, the mother’s night, by reason we suspect of the ceremonies which in that night-long vigil they performed.
The celebration of Modranicht may be connected to the worship of the Matronae in the regions of Germania and Gaul during the Roman period, reaching its height during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. They are often depicted as a group of three goddesses standing or sitting side by side, holding various objects and symbols associated with life, fertility, childhood, motherhood, protection, and prosperity. These symbols included items such as cornucopias, baskets of fruits, and bread, or they could be depicted holding infants or baby animals. Depictions of the Matronae can be found on stone carvings, altars, and other religious artefacts mainly in the Rhineland region of modern-day Germany, particularly along the river valleys of the Moselle and Rhine. Other significant concentrations of Matronae dedications have been found in Gaul, particularly in the areas corresponding to modern-day France and Luxembourg.
The significance and specific attributes of individual Matronae varied from one region to another, reflecting local customs and traditions. The Matronae were often associated with specific localities and their names frequently included the names of specific tribes or places. For example, the Matronae Aufaniae were worshipped in the Aufanianum region of modern-day Germany.
The music video below shows a quirky song about Modranicht, released in 2013 by indie rock band Ultrasound.
The winter solstice was a significant time for various ancient cultures, each with their own unique traditions. These diverse traditions all emphasised the importance of community, feasting, and the symbolic elements of light, renewal, and abundance during the darkest time of the year.
Geneviève’s Notes
Personally, I love to mark the winter solstice by creating a hyggelig atmosphere, inside my home with lighted candles, arrangements of evergreens, bare branches and winter berries, and a crackling fire. Dinner usually involves just my close family, enjoying a special feast of Beef Wellington, with green peppercorn sauce, herb and garlic roasted fingerling potatoes, and a warm winter greens salad, rounded out with a sticky fig and ginger pudding and butterscotch sauce.
I love this recipe from the Food Network’s Ultimate Beef Wellington, it also has a well-produced and easy-to-follow cooking video. Or for my beloved vegan friends and family, take a look at the vegan option from BOSH!, which also has a festive cooking video and looks amazing!
Although my family and I don’t like to eat traditional fruit pudding, you might like to repurpose your favourite Christmas pudding for the winter solstice. Christmas pudding traditions are steeped in history and cherished in many cultures. They are typically made with a mix of dried fruits, spices, and suet.
Often prepared in advance, pudding traditions often see families coming together to stir the pudding mix and make a wish. The pudding is then steamed or boiled, and when served, it is often accompanied by a warm brandy sauce or a dollop of creamy custard. Often, a coin or other small charm is mixed into the pudding before it is cooked. As the pudding is served, each slice is eaten with anticipation and the hope of finding the lucky coin or charm in their portion. Finding the coin is said to bring good luck and prosperity to the person who discovers the hidden object.
Why not incorporate the tradition of stirring or the coin into your pudding this winter solstice season? You can enjoy your favourite traditional fruit pudding recipe, or if you don’t like fruit pudding, try a sticky date pudding. We love this delicious Sticky Fig and Ginger Pudding recipe from Taste.com.au.
Just a warning that these recipes do take a lot of work. You may like to prepare the pudding a day or more in advance and even hold off the feast until the weekend, as I will be, so you have more time to prepare.
Join me next week as we explore the Origins of Christmas. Sláinte chuig an gheimhreadh!
Notable sources of this story include the Irish Mythological Cycle and medieval manuscripts such as the Lebor Gabala Erebb (The Book of Invasions) and the Tain Bo Cuailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley).