Robyn Williams
Known around the world as "the long night," the Winter Solstice brings cultural feasts, celebrations, and folklore about fending off the darkness and waiting for the light. Because the earth rotates on an axis, the northern hemisphere drifts the farthest from the sun, lengthening the night and shortening the day, at the beginning of every winter. December 21 marks the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Check out these traditions from around the northern continents. You just might find a new recipe or two to try to make your celebration brighter and your home's "hearth fires" more sustained.
Christmas
Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth. In the United States, traditionally, turkey and ham are served. In the earliest days of the country, the turkeys would have been freshly killed while the hog meat would have been taken from the larder after a few months of curing. Both meats represent a scrumptious meal that celebrates the birth of the Lord.
Sugar and Spice, including Cinnamon Pear Torte and Cranberry Apple Upside-Down Clove Cake
Yalda
In Persian countries, the longest night of the year (Yalda) was met with fear that evilness and bad deeds had time to spread. Persians celebrate the longest night of the year known as Shabe Yalda (Yalda Night) or Shabe Chelle. On the night of the Solstice, the entire family would make a large, lavish meal. Families stayed up throughout the night, snacking and telling stories, then celebrating as the light spilled through the sky in the moment of dawn.
Tien
The Chinese honor the god T'ien, and traditionally, the Emperor would offer sacrifices at the Forbidden City in the capitol. Today, people commemorate the longest night of the year by visiting temples and serving feasts in their homes to honor deceased family members. It's also a traditional time to eat dumplings!
Chilled Chinese Dumplings with Creamy Dukkah Sauce
The Feast of Juul
Spreading as a pre-Christian festival observed in Scandinavia first, then to England and parts of Europe, the festival most commonly lit fires to celebrate the longest night and prayer to the gods to bring back the light. The tradition of lighting a Yule log most likely originated from the Feast of Juul. Orthodox Christians still maintain that ritual. After it stopped burning, the ashes were collected and either strewn on the fields as fertilizer every night or kept in the house to ward off thunder and lightening. A traditional feast saw people coming together to eat, drink, and make sacrifices while watching the yule log burning.
Sweet Sensations, including Festive Fondant Mints; Nutty Caramel Popcorn; Chunky Black & White Chocolate Bark
