I don't really know much about it except that some(i think non-religous?) people celebrate it on the 21st? Is it like their substitute for the other major holidays around this time such as christmas, hannakah, and kwanzaa? And what do they do to celebrate? Thanks for any information you can provide me!
there are several ways to look at it. as the winter solstice it is the Longest Night. the time when you have to wait the longest to see the warm light of the sun the next day. Pagans (generally) call it Yule, and there are many different ways to celebrate it. usually a warm fire, sometimes a vigil and watching the sun rise. people believe many different things. but at its most basic level, it is an astrological celebration. non religious people sounds like an insult. and it is not a celebration to 'replace' the mainstream religious celebrations. the winter solstice was around long before semitic faiths, it was celebrated before them, and it will be here and celebrated long after them. in the past it was something that could be counted on, that the days would get longer and the winter colder, and then that the days would become longer and spring would return. now we have electricity, natural gas, and running water, we don't have to worry about the sun coming up in the morning. the Earth still wobbles and turns the same. (ok, scientifically it shifts but im being lazy so neah)
