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Today we celebrate the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the first day of the winter season. Typically falling between the 21st and 23rd of December each year, the Winter Solstice ushers in the promise of longer days and rekindles our gardening spirit for yet another year.
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"In the depths of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer". Albert Camus 
Winter Solstice, the beginning of winter, is when the sun is farther away from the earth than any other time of the year for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. In contrast, this date marks the Summer Solstice for those living in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ancient civilizations had limited knowledge of nature's cycles and the changing positions of the sun and earth, fearing that the waning sun was disappearing, never to return! The Winter Solstice was celebrated with feasts and ceremonies that included bonfires or burning of a whole tree through the night, believing the fires would guarantee the return of the sun in the morning.
One of these ancient ceremonies, Saturnalia, was named for Saturn (the Roman god of sowing), and was sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights. The Romans believed these fire ceremonies would "insure the return of the sun's warmth in time for spring planting" [1] and "safeguard the health of the crops sown in winter"[2]. Remnants of charred wood from the fires were saved to use for starting the fire the following year and ashes from the fires were spread in the fields, confident that this ritual would bring good luck for the new year's harvests.
In later years, these celebrations would continue for twelve days and were called the Yule Festival or Yuletide (turning of the sun) - now commonly celebrated as the twelve days of Christmas. Hence, the logs or trees that were burned became known as Yule Logs.
Oak was the most common wood used for these Yule Logs. However, other woods [3] were used as well and were thought to:
(Aspen) invoke an understanding of the grand design
(Birch) signify new beginnings
(Holly) inspire visions and reveal past lives
(Oak) promote healing, strength and wisdom
(Pine) signify prosperity and growth
Today, many people continue to celebrate the Winter Solstice with bonfires or the traditional burning of a Yule Log. However, the Yule Log has now become more of a common ritual on Christmas Eve versus a celebration of the Winter Solstice, possibly due to the disappearance of fireplaces in many of our homes today. The traditional Yule Log has now been transformed into decorations for our holiday table with small sections of logs adorned with candles and greenery or imitated with log-shaped cakes (Bûche de Noël - French for 'Christmas Log') and commonly served as dessert with Christmas dinner.
Is the original celebration of burning Yule Logs for the Winter Solstice becoming a dying tradition? Perhaps - however there are clever options available for those of you without fireplaces. An assortment of Yule Log DVDs are available to help create your very own 'virtual' burning of the Yule Log on television or computer screens! A soundtrack of holiday favorites is included for your listening pleasure while enjoying the crackling sounds of your Yule Log 'fire'.
Just call me old-fashioned...I'll steer clear of the 'virtual' experience and celebrate the Winter Solstice with a new tradition of my own. My tradition will include lighting a Yule Log in the fireplace to enjoy its warmth and comfort on this, the shortest day of the year. I'll read my gardening magazines and peruse garden catalogs looking for inspiring ideas and plants for my gardens in the new year. And...I'll raise my cup of cheer to toast the Winter Solstice while singing along with David Mallett's "Garden Song"[4]. Click here to join me, won't you?
"Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
'Till the rain comes tumbling down.
Pulling weeds and pickin' stones;
Man is made of dreams and bones
Feel the need to grow my own,
'Cause the time is close at hand.
Grain for grain, sun and rain,
Find my way in nature's chain
Tune my body and my brain,
To the music from the land.
Plant your rows straight and long,
Temper them with a prayer and song.
Mother Earth will make you strong
If you give her love and care.
An old crow watching hungrily
From his perch in yonder tree.
And in my garden I'm as free
As that feathered thief up there.
Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
'Till the rain comes tumbling down." |  |
 | Wishing you a Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in your garden!
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Images, courtesy of: Earth-lighting-winter-solstice by Przemyslaw Idzkiewicz Wikimedia® Thank you Louise (venu209) for allowing me use of your festive fireplace photo!
[1] Winter Activities: Bring Back the Sun! Seeds of Change Garden. NMHH Education Department. [2] Tinselled Traditions: The Origins of Christmas Celebrations by Novareinna. Seeker Magazine [3] Christmas Traditions: The Yule Log. South Main Preservation Society [4] Emmi Tarr and Randi Reames. Garden of Song
I especially want to thank David Mallett for permission to use the lyrics from "Garden Song" [Inches & Miles (1977-1980)]
 | My gardening journey began when I discovered perennials in the 80’s, prompting endless trips to the library to educate myself. In 1999, I left the dreary winters of Maine, moved to Virginia and fulfilled my dream of working with plants. Today, I’m a partner with my husband in the nursery he established in 1981. I’m known to test the limits of plants that “shouldn’t” grow in Zone 6. As a hopeless ‘Hortaholic’, I share the sentiment of Tony Avent, “I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times”! I’m looking forward to sharing my gardening passion with everyone. |
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Subject: Clarification of Sun's 'Position'
Posted by rcn48 (from Lexington, VA) on December 26, 2007 at 6:41 AM:In my haste to write the article on the Winter Solstice, my statement... "the sun is farther away from the earth than any other time of the year" is incorrect!
My husband's attempt to explain the earth's position to me soon had me wishing I had never asked! However, my French heritage often catches me reversing information and once again I am guilty LOL! Several DGers have been kind enough to point out my error and I'd like to pass this along to everyone to correct the information I provided.
Victorgardener: "The earth is not furthest from the sun on winter solstice. In fact, the earth, which follows an elliptical orbit, is actually closest to the sun during the northern hemisphere's early winter - usually the beginning of January. It's furthest away the first week of July. The seasons are not caused by the changing distance between the sun and earth, but by the angle that the earth is tilted - about 23 degrees. That tilt makes the sun's daily high point in the sky change during the seasons and on winter solstice, that highest point is lower than on any other day. The lower angles of winter translate into less warming and colder temps."
Thank you Victor and FishermanDave for the information and the opportunity to correct my error :)
Debbie
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Subject: Fantastic
Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on December 22, 2007 at 10:55 AM:Loved the article. Had no idea the history of the yule log. Always being associated with Christmas just assumed it was another word for same.
The link is priceless. Have bookmarked it. I must have lived a charmed life as a child because as I scrolled through the titles, I know everyone of them. Music was like breathing in my parent's household. Thank you so much. ... Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on December 22, 2007 at 11:07 AM: I really enjoyed this article. It brings the holidays back to their historic roots.
Thanks,
gloria ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 22, 2007 at 12:22 PM: This is a great article, I read it last night when it first popped on my screen, and just had to come back to read it again this morning.
Thank you so much.
Sharon ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on December 22, 2007 at 12:52 PM: Wonderful article Deb; brings so much hope knowing that we're on the downhill slope now of the shorter days - thanks!
... Posted by JaxFlaGardener (from Jacksonville, FL) on December 22, 2007 at 12:58 PM: Thanks for a very enjoyable and informative article! I feel like I can survive whatever frosts or freezes are still to come, knowing that we've now turned the corner and are headed toward Spring.
Jeremy ... Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on December 22, 2007 at 1:11 PM: Great job, Deb! I keep telling everyone, as we shovel out from another snowstorm, 'don't worry, it's almost winter.' Now it is officially time to start winter sowing, time to start madly forcing indoor bulbs, time to make chocolate log rolls, and time to start counting the extra minutes of sunlight we get each day! xx, Carrie ... Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on December 22, 2007 at 4:27 PM: Thanks for the interesting article! Here is my winter solstice prayer for all:
May this day be a day of rebirth, rejuvenation, the return of the sun. A time of purification to enter the new year free of unhealthy negativity from the previous year. A time to rejoice in the successes and progress made in the year past, and to bring that positivity into the new year. A night to reflect on what your spirit has learned from experiences and relationships this past year, and to combine the gains and losses into lessons for the future. A time to say goodbye to souls who have left this plane, and to welcome the children who will teach us. See life though a child's eyes, and always live in wonder. Blessed be.
May the fires of Winter Solstice warm your hearts through the coming year.
Yokwe: Traditional : "Your beauty is as the rainbow"...may we all aspire to see beauty in all of its many aspects.
Yokwe my friends! ... Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on December 22, 2007 at 5:24 PM: Shari, how lovely! Thank you. ... Posted by rcn48 (from Lexington, VA) on December 22, 2007 at 5:42 PM:
| Quoted: | | The link is priceless |
Isn't it? I was searching for Dave Mallett's song and found that site, I love it! Thank you for all the wonderful comments - they make my day!
Shari, your prayer IS "lovely", thank you!
Carrie, make sure that snow is gone soon! I'm heading to the Northeast the first week of January, and I need clear sailing for the long drive :)
... Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on December 22, 2007 at 8:15 PM: Um, I'm not sure what I can do about it, Debbie. No snow down by you? Ah, you're wimps anyway! No, it'll still be here, bring warm clothes and boots and mittens and shovels and salt and put something heavy over the tires that are driving. That is, in the old days, we all had rear-wheel drive and we all had the bag of sand in the back to give the rear wheels more traction. Nowadays, they use stuff that isn't sand and who knows which wheels are driving. But this snow won't be gone by then You heard it here first. x, Carrie ...
Subject: News to me
Posted by CajuninKy (from Inez, KY) on December 22, 2007 at 8:48 AM:Interesting article. I have always heard of the yule log but didn't know any of the background info.
Thanks. ... Posted by rcn48 (from Lexington, VA) on December 22, 2007 at 5:46 PM: Cajun, same here...I learned a lot doing research for the article and really enjoyed expanding my knowledge of the "Yule" season :) ...
Subject: Great article, Deb
Posted by Candyce (from The Monadnock Region, NH) on December 22, 2007 at 8:04 AM:You certainly have taught me a lot with this article. I will 'chant' the song over my winter-sowing seeds, though, if you don't mind. I appreciate how much research goes in to an article like this and I thank you for taking the time to help educate all of us DGers.
I fell in love with the sunrise (sunset?) photo - Gorgeous!! ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on December 22, 2007 at 2:11 PM: Great article, Deb! Didn't know some of that history. In NYC, we had a local tv station show the yule log for three hours on Christmas eve. And of course, who can forget Yule Gibbons?!! Hee hee. ... Posted by rcn48 (from Lexington, VA) on December 22, 2007 at 5:53 PM: Oh Victor, you devil, you couldn't resist could you? LOL
Candyce, I was looking for a sunset photo, unfortunately the sun sets over the Alleghany Mtns on the other side of us and we can't get any good pictures from the deck (we've planted too many trees!). The photo used is of the sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mtns which we're able to see every morning :) ... Posted by DebinSC (from Summerville, SC) on December 22, 2007 at 8:08 PM: Great article! I was planning a small bonfire for the Soltice this year, but I decided against it. Might burn down the whole neighborhood after our 5 month drought! Hoping for more rain with the longer days! ... Posted by sanannie (from White Lake, ON) on December 25, 2007 at 12:03 PM: Had no idea of the connection with the Winter Soltice and yule log. Thanks for the interesting and well written article, Deb.
Sheesh, the things I've learned on DG....
Sandy ...
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