The winter solstice, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year, has long been a time of reverence, reflection, and celebration for ancient peoples. In the lands of Scotland, Ireland, England, and Iceland, this celestial event holds special significance, woven into myths, beliefs, and the alignment of sacred sites. These regions, rich in folklore and ancient architecture, offer a window into how their early inhabitants understood and honored the turning of the year.  For those of you that are making your way back to living and honoring the natural rhythms and cycles of nature, this is a great place to start.

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The Winter Solstice in Celtic and Norse Lore

The winter solstice has been celebrated as a time of profound transformation in both Celtic and Norse traditions. For ancient peoples, the solstice was not merely an astronomical event but a pivotal moment in the cosmic cycle. It was a time when darkness reached its zenith, and the promise of returning light inspired hope, renewal, and sacred reverence.

Celtic Solstice Lore

The Celtic peoples, whose traditions spanned Scotland, Ireland, and parts of England, saw the solstice as a time of both endings and beginnings. It marked the death of the old year and the birth of the new, as symbolized in the myth of the Oak King and Holly King. These twin figures represented the light and dark halves of the year, respectively. At the solstice, the Oak King—the embodiment of growth and light—would defeat the Holly King, signaling the return of the sun and the lengthening of days.

In Celtic mythology, the goddess Brigid was associated with this time of year. Although her feast day, Imbolc, is celebrated later in the year, her connection to fertility, fire, and light aligns her with solstice themes of rebirth and renewal. The solstice also carried a strong connection to the otherworld—a mystical realm of spirits, deities, and ancestors. This liminal time was believed to thin the veil between worlds, making it an auspicious occasion for divination, ancestor veneration, and spiritual insight.

The solstice also influenced Celtic agricultural and communal rhythms. For agrarian societies, this period of darkness marked a pause in planting and harvesting cycles, creating space for feasting, storytelling, and bonding around the fire.

Norse Solstice Traditions

In Norse culture, the solstice was celebrated as Jól (Yule), a festival deeply tied to their mythology and worldview. Yule marked the beginning of the lengthening days and symbolized the triumph of the sun over darkness. Fires and candles were lit to honor the return of light, while feasting and merrymaking united communities against the harsh realities of winter.

Central to Norse solstice lore was the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession led by Odin or other gods, which swept through the night sky during this liminal time. This spectral hunt symbolized the power of the divine and the thin boundary between the physical world and the spiritual realm. It was both an omen and a blessing, reminding people of their connection to forces beyond their comprehension.

The Norse sun goddess, Sól, played a key role in solstice mythology. Pursued by the wolf Sköll, who sought to devour her, Sól's survival symbolized the persistence of light in the face of darkness. This myth aligned with the solstice’s themes of endurance, renewal, and cosmic balance.

Sacred Solstice Sites in Scotland, Ireland, and England

Scotland: Maeshowe and the Callanish Stones

1. Maeshowe
   Located on Orkney Island, Maeshowe is a Neolithic chambered cairn, built around 2800 BCE. During the winter solstice, the setting sun aligns with its entrance passage, illuminating the inner chamber. This architectural precision suggests a deep understanding of celestial cycles and emphasizes the solstice's spiritual significance to its builders. The cairn’s alignment is believed to symbolize rebirth and renewal, echoing the themes of the solstice.
2. The Callanish Stones
   Situated on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, the Callanish Stones date back to 2900 BCE. These standing stones form a cruciform shape and are aligned with lunar and solar events, including the solstices. Local folklore ties the stones to ancient deities, suggesting they served as a site for rituals invoking the sun’s return.

Ireland: Newgrange and Loughcrew Cairns

1. Newgrange
   Newgrange, a Neolithic passage tomb in County Meath, is one of the most iconic solstice sites in the world. Built around 3200 BCE, the tomb’s passage is precisely aligned with the rising sun on the winter solstice. For a few minutes each year, sunlight floods the inner chamber, illuminating intricate carvings of spirals and geometric patterns. The alignment reflects ancient Ireland’s reverence for the sun and its role in the cycle of life and death.
2. Loughcrew Cairns
   Another solstice-aligned site, the Loughcrew Cairns in County Meath, feature megalithic tombs that capture the first light of the solstice sun. The carvings inside the cairns—spirals, suns, and other symbolic motifs—reinforce the solstice’s importance as a time of transformation and renewal.

England: Stonehenge and Avebury

1. Stonehenge
   Perhaps the most famous solstice site in the world, Stonehenge’s origins date back to around 3000 BCE. During the winter solstice, the setting sun aligns perfectly with the stones, casting light into the heart of the monument. Archaeological evidence suggests that solstice gatherings here were both spiritual and communal, involving rituals to honor the rebirth of the sun and its life-giving energy.
2. Avebury
   Located near Stonehenge, the Avebury stone circle is the largest in Britain. While its exact purpose remains speculative, its design and proximity to solstice alignments suggest it played a role in marking seasonal transitions and hosting rituals tied to the solar cycle.

Iceland: Þingvellir and Yule Fires

1. Þingvellir National Park
   While Iceland lacks monumental structures akin to Stonehenge, the Þingvellir site holds cultural and spiritual significance. Its open landscapes and volcanic terrain were settings for ancient Norse assemblies (Þing), where laws were passed and rituals performed. During the solstice, the surrounding natural features would have enhanced ceremonies that honored the returning light.

1. Yule Fires and Rituals
   In Icelandic tradition, the solstice was marked by lighting fires to ward off darkness and summon the sun’s strength. This practice, rooted in Norse Yule traditions, symbolized hope and the promise of renewal during the harshest time of year.

Mythical Creatures and Solstice Legends

The winter solstice was a time when myths and legends came alive, populated by powerful deities, magical beings, and supernatural occurrences. The darkest time of year was also the most liminal, where the barriers between the worlds of the living and the dead, the mortal and the divine, were at their thinnest.

The Cailleach (Scotland and Ireland)

The Cailleach, a divine hag and winter goddess, played a prominent role in solstice mythology. In Scottish and Irish lore, she was associated with the creation of the landscape, particularly mountains and lochs, and was said to control the weather during the dark half of the year. The solstice marked the beginning of her decline, as the power of winter waned with the return of the sun.

Some legends suggest the Cailleach would transform into a young maiden as the light returned, representing the cycle of death and rebirth inherent in the changing seasons. Others believed she retreated into the mountains to await her time of power in the next winter.

The Wild Hunt (England and Iceland)

The Wild Hunt is a chilling legend that spans both English and Icelandic solstice traditions. It depicts a spectral procession of spirits, often led by a powerful figure such as Odin, Herne the Hunter, or a local chieftain. The hunt swept through the night sky, accompanied by fierce winds and ghostly hounds.

In England, it was believed that encountering the Wild Hunt could bring misfortune or death, though it could also serve as a warning of coming change. Icelandic legends tied the hunt to Yule and the liminality of the solstice season, a time when the hidden folk (huldufólk) and elves (álfar) emerged from their realms.

Álfar and Hidden Folk (Iceland)

In Iceland, the winter solstice was closely tied to the Álfar (elves) and huldufólk (hidden folk), mystical beings who inhabited the land but remained unseen by humans. During the solstice, these beings were believed to be more active and visible, crossing into the human world.

Offerings were often left for the Álfar, particularly on solstice night, to ensure their goodwill and blessings for the coming year. It was thought that disrespecting these beings—such as by disturbing their homes in rocks or hills—could result in misfortune. Icelandic solstice tales also include stories of trolls and giants, whose presence was a reminder of the raw power of nature during the darkest days of winter.

The Holly King and Oak King (Celtic Regions)

One of the most enduring solstice legends in Celtic regions is the battle between the Holly King and Oak King. These figures, embodying winter and summer, darkness and light, clashed at the solstices. At the winter solstice, the Oak King triumphed, bringing the return of the sun and lengthening days. This myth was often tied to the reverence for evergreens such as holly, ivy, and mistletoe, which symbolized life’s persistence through winter.

Sun-Related Deities and Symbolism

Across these regions, the solstice was also linked to deities associated with the sun. In Norse mythology, Sól, the sun goddess, was a beacon of life and warmth, while Celtic traditions honored solar symbols through carvings and rituals. These deities and their stories emphasized the sacred importance of the sun’s rebirth and its essential role in the survival and prosperity of the community.

Modern Connections to Ancient Solstice Wisdom

Reconnecting with the solstice traditions of Scotland, Ireland, England, and Iceland offers a chance to honor ancient wisdom and deepen our relationship with nature’s cycles. Visiting solstice sites or incorporating Celtic and Norse-inspired rituals into modern practices can foster a sense of continuity with the past.

1. Host a Solstice Gathering
   Celebrate with storytelling, feasting, and lighting candles or fires to welcome the return of the sun.  
2. Reflect on the Year’s Cycle
   Use the solstice as a time to release old patterns and set intentions for renewal, mirroring the rebirth of the sun.  
3. Visit Sacred Sites
   Dive into the rich history of solstice monuments like Newgrange, Maeshowe, or Stonehenge to connect with ancient wisdom, and for some of you, connecting with your roots!  
4. Honor the Natural World
   Incorporate elements like evergreen boughs, mistletoe, or symbols of the sun into your celebrations, echoing ancient traditions.

A Timeless Celebration of Light

The solstice traditions of Scotland, Ireland, England, and Iceland remind us of our shared human heritage: a profound respect for the cycles of nature and the hope born from darkness. These lands, rich in lore and sacred sites, continue to inspire awe and connection, inviting us to honor the light within ourselves and the world.

May your solstice celebrations be a beacon of renewal, wisdom, and joy.

Rebecca Mohlman

The Reframe: Where Fear Is Brave Podcast

www.TheReframe.net