Winter Solstice....

**Owl** · 12-20-2010, 07:25 PM

Just a question....

Does a lunar eclipse tonight have special meaning for paganism since it happens so rarely?

Thanks.

**IdRatherBeSkiing** · 12-20-2010, 09:59 PM

Tonight or Tuesday night?

**triedit** · 12-21-2010, 01:13 AM

Any time planets align is significant for most pagans. This one even moreso because the "main" celestial bodies are the moon, the earth, and the sun. All pagans worship one or more of these. So yes, it's extra special this year!

**triedit** · 12-21-2010, 01:37 AM

FYI for those interested, and since we've lost the paganism stuff for the most part....

Winter Solstice is the Pagan New Year celebration. It signifies the return of the sun (the days start getting longer again) and triumph over death, as well as a renewal of hope in general. Earth begins to recover, to grow again, thanks to the sun. It is a time when Pagans reflect over the past year, giving thanks and asking forgivenness.

Christmas is based on this day due to the timing of the birth of the Roman god of the of Agriculture (Saturn) as well as the Babylonian Feast of Isis (the Goddess of Nature). Hanging of greens, gift giving, and cookie baking are all part of Saturnalia. In Northern Europe it is the birthday of the Sun God (Mithras) and the celebration was called Yule. Kissing under the mistletoe is a fertility ritual. "Christmas trees" are also an ancient fertility symbol. In 651 AD the Pope declared that the birth of Christ would be celebrated Dec 25 as a way to draw together the Pagans and the Christians.

**Owl** · 12-21-2010, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by IdRatherBeSkiing

Tonight or Tuesday night?

I think at 3 this morning... I got up around about that time to go to the bathroom, had a look outside, but it was overcast.

**wonder** · 12-21-2010, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by triedit

FYI for those interested, and since we've lost the paganism stuff for the most part....

Winter Solstice is the Pagan New Year celebration. It signifies the return of the sun (the days start getting longer again) and triumph over death, as well as a renewal of hope in general. Earth begins to recover, to grow again, thanks to the sun. It is a time when Pagans reflect over the past year, giving thanks and asking forgivenness.

Christmas is based on this day due to the timing of the birth of the Roman god of the of Agriculture (Saturn) as well as the Babylonian Feast of Isis (the Goddess of Nature). Hanging of greens, gift giving, and cookie baking are all part of Saturnalia. In Northern Europe it is the birthday of the Sun God (Mithras) and the celebration was called Yule. Kissing under the mistletoe is a fertility ritual. "Christmas trees" are also an ancient fertility symbol. In 651 AD the Pope declared that the birth of Christ would be celebrated Dec 25 as a way to draw together the Pagans and the Christians.

Thank you for that informative piece!

**IdRatherBeSkiing** · 12-21-2010, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Owl

I think at 3 this morning... I got up around about that time to go to the bathroom, had a look outside, but it was overcast.

It was at 2:41AM that night. I got up and watched it after about 2PM. triedit and the boy chose to stay up to watch it.

Next one visibile here is 2014/04/14. There is one in Asia on 2011/06/15.

And while the last Solstice eclipse before this was 1638/12/21, the next one will be in ONLY 84 years!