(no subject)
In the northern hemisphere, today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest
day of the year and the longest night. It's officially the first day of
winter and one of the oldest known holidays in human history.
Anthropologists believe that solstice celebrations go back at least
30,000 years, before humans even began farming on a large scale. Many of
the most ancient stone structures made by human beings were designed to
pinpoint the precise date of the solstice. The stone circles of
Stonehenge were arranged to receive the first rays of midwinter sun.
Ancient peoples believed that because daylight was waning, it might go
away forever, so they lit huge bonfires to tempt the sun to come back.
The tradition of decorating our houses and our trees with lights at this
time of year is passed down from those ancient bonfires.
day of the year and the longest night. It's officially the first day of
winter and one of the oldest known holidays in human history.
Anthropologists believe that solstice celebrations go back at least
30,000 years, before humans even began farming on a large scale. Many of
the most ancient stone structures made by human beings were designed to
pinpoint the precise date of the solstice. The stone circles of
Stonehenge were arranged to receive the first rays of midwinter sun.
Ancient peoples believed that because daylight was waning, it might go
away forever, so they lit huge bonfires to tempt the sun to come back.
The tradition of decorating our houses and our trees with lights at this
time of year is passed down from those ancient bonfires.