Winter Solstice

Norway, being as far north as they are on the planet, is one of the few countries in the world that still pay close attention to the position of the sun throughout the year.  In fact, they price houses there based upon how much sun they get in the wintertime, like Americans would price houses based on their view.  In Norway, almost every house has a view. 

In the summer, way up north, the sun never sets, but in winter, it only briefly rises. Part of the excitement in Norway during the Advent season – the days leading up to Christmas – is anticipating December 21^st – when the sun turns and the days start growing longer again. It is a cause for much celebration.

Actually, it’s only been in the last few hundred years that the Winter Solstice was more accurately placed on the 21^st.  Decades before Jesus was even born, Julius Caesar decreed the Winter Solstice should be December 25^th and it has been celebrated on that date up until the 16^th century.  So it’s no coincidence that Christmas falls on December 25^th as well.  Newly converted Christians wanted to keep celebrating on that date, but they had to give up their pagan ways, so they just designated the 25^th as the day to celebrate the birth of their Savior instead.  Surprisingly though, many countries throughout the world celebrate Christmas on a different date altogether.

Norwegians burn massive amounts of candles the whole month of December.  They say it’s to bring more light into their homes on the darkest month of the year, but I’m sure some of it harkens from their pre-Christian days of lighting bonfires and sacrificing animals and humans to the gods in hopes they’d end winter soon. 

There are no longer bonfires in Norway in December, but at the end of June, the night before the Summer Solstice, bonfires are a national obsession.  Neighborhoods all over Norway build huge bonfires and gather together with friends and family for Bar-B-Ques, games for the kids, and a night of socializing.  They carry on some of their pagan traditions with many locations still placing a dummy witch on top of the fire, which is then burned in effigy to ward off evil spirits that are thought to be lurking when the sun turns south. 

Since Norway is a Christian nation, this pagan ritual is problematic, but they solved the problem by wrapping Christianity into it.  The Bible says that Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, was born six months before Jesus, so conveniently now, the Summer Solstice is celebrated as John’s birthday, and the night before is called Santhansaften (Saint John’s Eve).  I’m sure, based on how they celebrate it, he would not be pleased.