In this post, I'd like to share some information about the upcoming Winter Solstice and how Ancient Ireland celebrated this day. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. The sun doesn't rise much above the horizon due to the tip of the earth's axis. It is a transitional day. Moving forward the days begin to grow longer - a transition into light. In the fall, plants shifted their energy into their roots. On the solstice, they transition into the creation of structures that will rise above the soil.
There's a great metaphor here for humans. The fall was traditionally a time of heavy labor, we needed to store and preserve food before winter, which officially begins on the Winter Solstice, December 21st. Traditionally, after the harvest, it was a time for slowing down, a short hibernating time. With contemporary schedules, deadlines, and artificial light, we've tuned out the environmental cues around us. It can still be a time of reflection and mental preparation. Giving yourself even a small amount of quiet time, a walk in the woods, a pause can make all the difference for both physical and mental well-being. Come the solstice, however, it is a time to think about and prepare for what's next.
In ancient Ireland, farmers were acutely aware of slight changes in sunlight and celestial bodies. The absence of artificial light meant the sky was easily viewed. If you've spent time away from streetlights, you've experienced the weight and monumentality of a clear night sky. It was foremost in the ancient's mind and these transitional periods were marked by ancient monuments and ceremonies.
This past March, my partner and I visited Ireland and made our way to some magnificent Passage Tombs north of Dublin. Dating from the Stone Age or Neolithic period, they were built 500-1000 years before the Egyptian pyramids. Some think they should be dated earlier to 10,000 years ago. The most famous of these tombs, Newgrange, aligns with the rising sun of the Winter Solstice. These tombs have long chambers that channel light from the sky into a representation of the earth-mother, a womb of sorts. Here's a video of this happening. Infused with metaphor, this Pagan tradition represented a fusion of sky and earth, an intercourse, awakening, a new beginning.
On this day in ancient times, Kings who had passed would sometimes be placed in these tombs, allowing this revered light to shine upon them. It was also thought to be a day of pilgrimage, an opportunity to commune. Smaller Passage Tombs are scattered all over the countryside, some aligning with equinoxes some with solstices, some with other celestial events. I like to think of them and the many standing stone circles and alignments we visited as the equivalent of the local church, temple, mosque, etc. Similar to those that dot every corner in cities. (They're a bit more spread out in Ireland.)
The Winter Solstice was also the day the Celtic Druids held ceremonies to harvest mistletoe from sacred oak groves. Mistletoe contains powerful medicinal properties for fertility and fighting the wasting diseases that we now recognize as cancer. Note: European and American Mistletoe are two different plants and cannot be interchanged.
Druids were not only the herbal medical professionals but also the artists, religious leaders, legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, and political advisors of ancient Ireland. Power in Druidic society wasn't a tug-of-war between genders. Druids held an egalitarian view of gender. Men and women worked together, each drawing upon unique strengths to maintain balance and stability within the community. Women possessed autonomy, wielding power as priestesses, healers, educators, and leaders within their communities.
The use of mistletoe in modern-day celebrations is a symbolic reference to their historic use medicinally and in rituals. In ancient times it was hung in barns and homes to ward off mischief and invite fertility and prosperity. In contemporary culture, it invites a kiss, a nod to its past.
Spending time with this plant, I'm fascinated that the branches are adorned with berries, a classic symbol of fertility. What's odd is that these berries appear so late in the season. They bear fruit well after all others have dropped to the ground. White berries, like the full moon, conjure thoughts of light emerging from darkness. The plants are also evergreen, hinting at longevity and its ability to prolong life. These are traits I'm certain the Druids noted when first beginning their relationship with this plant.
Clinical Herbalist Donna Troy Cleary is a descendant of two Hereditary Herbalism Families in Ireland and a former Registered Nurse. Read more about her history here. Find Spiral Herbal Remedies' Organic, plant-based Herbal Remedies in the shop on this website or stop by our brick-and-mortar shop located at 810 Washington Ave in Brooklyn, NY.
