Silent Night, Longest Night | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Silent Night, Longest Night

A personal solstice tradition

16
Silent Night, Longest Night
Goodfon

December 21st marks the longest, darkest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere: the Winter Solstice. Over the centuries, many traditions like the Roman Saturnalia and the Scandinavian Juul have developed, but I came up with a little celebration of my own a few years ago.

Winter is an extremely social month for me, between Christmas and New Years and my birthday shortly after. One holiday comes and I'm already preparing for the next. Not that I don't love this time of year; you would be hard-pressed to find a more holly jolly person than me. But having all that holiday spirit does create a lot of pressure to make my Christmas as big and wonderful as possible, and a lot of anxiety when I can't meet those expectations. I'm an introvert, and no matter how much you love your family, there is such thing as too much togetherness. Add the lingering aftershocks of final exams and the ending of the semester, and things can seem pretty bleak.

But then, December 21st comes. Night arrives and I excuse myself from whatever I am doing, sit by myself with some hot chocolate, and let go. Every single mistake, every single regret that has built up over the entire year? It's done. I wipe the slate and start anew.

A big part of my Solstice tradition is "watching the sun"-- waiting up all night to see the first sunrise after the longest night. The time until then is spent meditating, fixing up my bullet journal for the next year, and looking back at all the good things that had happened to me throughout the year. It serves a similar function to New Year's Eve, minus all the loudness and partying. That is my time for welcoming in the new, this is my time for letting go of the old.

I think there's something valuable in making your own holidays, creating your own reasons to give yourself something that you need. For me, that's introspection and some peace and quiet. For others it may be a wild night out with friends, or some quality time with family. The thing that makes it special is what you bring to it.

Have any made up holidays or traditions of your own? Comment them below and happy holidays!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2444
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1463
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200708
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21222
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments