The period between Christmas and New Year is often regarded as a kind of limbo between celebrations. For many, it’s a break from work, school, the usual hustle and bustle of modern day living. Though there is no official term to describe this time, I have heard it referred to as a ‘magic time’ as it is often marked by a quieter, more introspective energy as people reflect on the past year and prepare for the new one. We can look at this period as starting with the winter solstice around 21 December and continuing through to early January, a month whose name is full of significance in itself.
In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice (also known as midwinter or hibernum) occurs when the upper half of the Earth is tilted away from the sun, resulting in the shortest day and the longest night of the year.
This is the heart of winter, a season generally seen as a time of rest, renewal, and reflection. In the natural world, this is a time of stillness: plants lie dormant, animals hibernate and the rhythms of life slow down. As we take a walk in the countryside, we can feel the calm, and see this happening as the days grow shorter and colder, plants start to shrivel in the frost, the trees lose their leaves; squirrels are scampering around gathering the last nuts for their winter caches. Correspondingly, we retreat inside earlier, time seems to go slower, and there is more time for thought, for remembering those no longer with us. The time of rest will be followed by one of recovery and regeneration. From where leaves have fallen, new buds will burst into life as spring approaches.
A historical perspective
Let’s pause for a while to think about the earliest calendars, devised for timekeeping to help manage agricultural schedules and religious rituals. The months of the year were aligned with the lunar cycles and didn’t fully sync with the solar year. As a result, the year was often misaligned with the seasons.
In 45 BCE, Julius Caesar reformed the calendar (creating the Julian calendar), which standardised the length of the year by reflecting the solar cycle. At this point, January replaced March as the first month of the year.
What’s in a name?
Significantly, the month of January was named after Janus, the Roman god of doors, gates, and transitions. Janus was depicted with two faces, one looking backwards at the past, and one looking forward, towards the future. Nowadays, as we think about the past year, we try to make new resolutions for the coming year.
A period of rest and recharging
In many ways, the holiday season gives us a break from the relentless pace of modern life. This gives us a rare opportunity for stillness and quiet, a time to rest and recuperate. That is, of course, once we have done all our shopping for presents and feasts.
The winter months often coincide with a dip in energy levels and mood, due to the lack of sunlight. The darker time between the solstice and the new year provides an opportunity to take care of our mental health, whether through rest, enjoying simple things we love doing or simply spending time with family and loved ones. We need this kind of break, especially with its cultural focus on holidays and gatherings to build up energy for the new year ahead.
Rituals, ancient and modern
Many ancient traditions included performing rituals during the winter solstice to honour the transition from darkness to light, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and the promise of a new beginning. In Celtic traditions, the solstice was a time to honour the rebirth of the Sun God; likewise, in Roman traditions, the festival of Sol Invictus (the ‘Unconquered Sun’) celebrated the return of the sun and longer days.
In many religious practices, the period between the solstice and the New Year is a time for spiritual renewal. Christmas and Hanukkah – which this year happen on the same day – are celebrations that revolve around light, hope, and the promise of new beginnings. The Islamic observance of Muharram (the first month and sacred start of the Islamic year), the Eastern traditions of the Winter Solstice, and the Chinese New Year, are all steeped in rituals and festivities that both acknowledge the passing year and prepare for the future through spiritual contemplation, revitalisation, and the reawakening of hope.
Lighting candles, bonfires, and fireworks and family gatherings are common customs for celebrating the new year. They allow people to come together, to close the chapter on the old year, and to look forward to the promise of the future. In many ways, the festivities surrounding the New Year reinforce the collective experience of transitioning from a time of rest and reflection into a time of action and growth.
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