Winter Solstice and its Connection with Water
As the Winter Solstice approaches here in the southern hemisphere, our friends in the north are celebrating the Summer part of the cycle. Whilst I am looking forward to swimming in more light and the coming of longer days, there is something wondrous and grounding about the part of the cycle that has us swimming at 6am in the dark; the pier, swim buoys and the distant foreshore offering the only light to keep us orientated.
This year in Australia, the longest night for 2024 will end on Friday 21 June, at 6:50 am . Many here in Australia will participate in a winter solstice swim or dip; the most famous one being the nude solstice dip held under the auspices of the Dark MOFO, an annual celebration of all things beautiful in the deep of Tasmania’s Winter. There are organised events ( the Ocean Swims Website , https://oceanswims.com/ shares more information about organised events) and many informal gatherings all over Australia.
Winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, marks a key event in the calendar of many cultures throughout time and is imbued with rich historical and cultural connotations. Particularly interesting is its relationship with bodies of water, which often symbolize life, purification and renewal. Whether it is the open ocean, lakes, rivers, wells or a bowl of water, water has been central.
Early societies, dependent on hunting, gathering and agriculture, keenly monitored the seasons. Stonehenge, believed to be built around 3000 BC, is an example of such early astronomical observations. The stones were positioned to align with the winter solstice sunset as part of celebrations of the 'rebirth' of the sun. The winter solstice represented a sign of the approaching spring and the promise of renewed life. In Celtic traditions, people often visited holy wells on the winter solstice, where they would make offerings and ask for blessings.
In ancient Greece, the winter solstice was a significant event. The Greeks celebrated the rebirth of Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and theater during the winter solstice. Dionysus was also closely associated with the sea as he was believed to have been raised by the sea nymphs, known as Nereids. Their celebrations often took place near the sea, and offerings were made to sea deities like Poseidon and Aphrodite, reflecting the integral role that the ocean played in their mythology and daily life.
In Roman times, the winter solstice marked the festival of Saturnalia, during which people would gift each other symbolic presents, such as sigillaria, terracotta figurines, which were often thrown into running water bodies, signifying the discarding of old habits and the cleansing of the soul for the new year.
In the Japanese Shinto tradition, the winter solstice is a time when people partake in a ritual called 'Yuzu-yu', or citrus bath. It is believed that soaking in a bath with yuzu fruits on the winter solstice can ward off illnesses.
Similarly, in certain Native American cultures, winter solstice ceremonies involved the use of water for purification, with participants often immersing themselves in rivers to cleanse their spirits and prepare for the coming year.
In Northern Europe, particularly in Scandinavian countries, the ocean and water bodies played a significant role in their winter solstice celebrations, known as Yule. People dipped in icy water bodies to symbolically cleanse themselves and embrace the returning light.
All sounds familiar? Our beliefs and rituals, collectively across cultures, have survived the test of time. Even in their modern variation they speak to the profound historical and cultural significance water has and how it continues to be a source of fascination, echoing the universal human desire for renewal, rejuvenation and a deep connection with nature.
WIll you partake in a Winter Solstice Swim or Dip this year?