| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | returning (or rising) day by day in the sky. The |
| Arg shivered as he finished the last of the boiled | | | | solstice is the single most auspicious celestial |
| weasel skin he brought for his lunch. His daily hunt | | | | event each year, and so it is the most natural |
| had taken him to the end of the Tall Deer | | | | candidate for a day for recognition of the cyclical |
| creek-bed. No luck, so far, no game at all. He | | | | nature of everything. With the physical proof of |
| turned back down the valley, not looking forward | | | | the continuation of the earth cycle comes a |
| to his evening meal of the rotting wolverine meat | | | | realization that things start to inevitably improve, |
| in the bottom of the cellar. His wife Erg and the | | | | generally speaking. Doubts about the continuation |
| kids would be disappointed to have no new game. | | | | of the chain are alleviated. One feels that he has |
| He knew she would probably just sink deeper into | | | | survived another low point, that he has achieved |
| her despair. The snowfalls and increasing darkness | | | | a victory over darkness (both literally and |
| each day had left her unable to cope. She kept | | | | figuratively). The predominant emotion is relief, |
| the kids in the hut with her under the furs. She | | | | and this feeling gives rise to a collective |
| spoke of slow death and hopelessness. They | | | | celebration, to share the recognition. The people |
| were all getting thin and weak. But every day it | | | | call this celebration Solstivus. |
| seemed he still felt a core sense of hope. He felt | | | | The people gather at Solstivus to celebrate the |
| optimistic and self-confident. As he trudged on, he | | | | renewal of life. They express common recurring |
| had time to worry and think. He wondered, was | | | | emotions, or themes, including expectations for |
| he being irrational? Should he continue to hope? He | | | | increasing vitality, renewal and hope - the |
| wanted a sign; no, he yearned for a sign. He had | | | | essences of life. The celebration of life is heralded |
| heard from other hunters that the river village | | | | by light, the sun's increasing light, and so Solstivus |
| folk were preparing for some winter celebration, | | | | is symbolized by light, mostly the light of candles |
| but why? He decided to visit Wiseguy, the village | | | | burning resolutely in the darkness. Over and over |
| elder, to seek answers. He wondered what the | | | | again the people feel an urge to surround |
| Solstivus celebration was all about. Wiseguy | | | | themselves with symbols of life and to decorate |
| revealed to Arg the meaning of Solstivus. | | | | their homes with recurring color schemes. For |
| Solstivus is one name given to the annual winter | | | | example, evergreen trees, boughs or plants (ex. |
| gathering. All tribes have evolved a traditional | | | | holly, mistletoe) are gathered, because they |
| mid-winter holiday or celebration, and for good | | | | literally show life-like green color even when other |
| reason. Solstivus is a celebration of life. It is the | | | | plants are brown and barren. Things colored green |
| occasion when we are reminded of the reliable | | | | are gathered, because living plants have green |
| rhythms of nature and life. | | | | foliage. Things colored red are also gathered, |
| The earth and all life on earth move through | | | | because people associate red with the power of |
| cycles of birth, growth, decline, and rebirth. All | | | | the sun and fire. Things colored white are also |
| persons can see that this is so. Just as each day | | | | gathered, because most feel that white best |
| begins with a dawning of the sun and ends with | | | | symbolizes the purity of birth, rebirth or renewal. |
| darkness, so each year begins with increasing daily | | | | Some people place lots of candles (lights) around |
| sunlight, which peaks in summer, and then declines | | | | and in their homes. |
| again to a winter low point. All plants and animals | | | | Solstivus has always naturally engendered certain |
| (including humans) also follow the same earth | | | | recurring behaviors in different tribes of people. |
| cycle. Animals hibernate in the winter and | | | | To express their renewed hope, many will |
| reactivate as spring returns. A person's life | | | | typically hold a feast, to demonstrate their |
| likewise follows a similar cycle; childhood, | | | | confidence that more food will become available. |
| adulthood, then death. Each individual is like a link in | | | | To express their appreciation and sense of |
| a chain that appears to extend infinitely backward | | | | generosity/charity, many will give gifts. To |
| and forward; the Chain of Life. Humans have | | | | express their relief, many will seek to re-connect |
| self-awareness, an ability that makes them aware | | | | with friends and family; singing often breaks out |
| of and fearful of their vulnerability. As each winter | | | | at gatherings. To express their sense of good |
| intensifies and survival becomes a challenge, | | | | fortune to have survived, many will forgive |
| humans are prone to doubt that things can | | | | others for perceived transgressions, and they |
| improve. They doubt that the cycles of life will | | | | may say they wish for peace. |
| continue. | | | | The symbols and behaviors of Solstivus affirm |
| For earth, the low point of the year, for the | | | | our connection to the earth, its life force, and our |
| northern hemisphere, when the sun and its | | | | own human purpose. Solstivus heralds the hope of |
| nourishing power is at its lowest point in the sky, | | | | a new day. |
| is called the Solstice. The solstice event provides | | | | Arg is everyman at all times. Arg and Erg are in |
| visceral proof of the renewal of the cycle; people | | | | you. Does Wiseguy's explanation ring true for |
| can see for themselves that the sun is indeed | | | | you? |