The winter solstice - that instant every year when the sun is farthest away from earth - has always been a "magic" time for mankind. As About.com's guide to Ireland, Bernd Biege, speculates: "The nights had become noticeably longer for weeks, the days murkier, the sun styling low on the horizon. You can just imagine cavemen muttering to each other 'If this carries on, we'll have to invent fire to see anything at all!'"
You can read about winter solstice celebrations around the globe in his blog The Winter Solstice - Not Just Newgrange, where tourists gather to watch the rising sun illuminate the heart of the megalith's inner chamber. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter solstice is actually in late June. In Cusco, Peru, this shortest day of the year is celebrated with parades and festivals. In nearby Machu Picchu, travelers gather at dawn to watch the sun's rays spill shine through a window in the Temple of the Sun and light up a ceremonial stone.
Photo © L Friedland
Nice! I am so disappointed that most of the Native American are not celebrating the Winter Solstice anymore. They pretty much use the Catholic Calendar for their native celebration.
The Dances are fabulous and really inspiring. I believe the younger would like to come back to more traditional old ways.
I would love to assist to the peruvian celebration.