On December 21, 2025 at 10:03 am EST (7:03 am PST) the Sun moves into the sign of Capricorn on the tropical zodiac. At that time the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, that imaginary line of latitude across the Earth and due to the planet’s axial tilt, its northern hemisphere is furthest away from the Sun. therefore receiving the least amount of sunlight marking the onset of the winter season and that day is the shortest of the year and the night is at its longest. From that point forward, the days become increasingly longer with more sunlight each day.

Conversely, as the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter, the Southern Hemisphere has its summer season. Because of Earth’s tilt, the North Pole receives virtually no sunlight during the winter while Antarctica has perpetual sunlight for the next six months. This process is reversed for the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere each June.

Since the Winter Solstice heralds the period in which days become longer, getting more sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere, many peoples celebrate this season as a time of rebirth. Throughout the eons, it has become lore that various deities were born or reborn on or about December 25 including the Egyptian god Horus, the Persian god Mithra, and others. In the Wiccan tradition their Sun god Lugh is feted during their Yule holiday, one of the eight major Pagan holidays.

It is from the holiday of Yule that many of the symbols used in the Western world denote the Winter Solstice. Mistletoe is said to represent the Goddess and holly, the God. The reason that pine trees are used as Christmas trees is that they are perennial and a sign of renewal and healing.

Many candles are lit at this time to symbolize the increasing Light of the season.

Coinciding with the Winter Solstice is the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights in which a candle is lit on the candle holder called the menorah every night during their eight-day feast in commemoration of the victory over the Syrians who had invaded their temple in Jerusalem.

So why is Christmas observed on the 25th of December? In an earlier blog post, Frater Gaston explained that Master Jesus was not born on that day, using astrological charts as proof. The 5th century Christians declared that since Jesus was most likely crucified around the time of the Vernal Equinox, they somehow surmised that he was probably conceived at approximately that time as well, thus figuring his birth date as the day called Christmas.

But prior to when Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, the Romans held what they called the festival of Saturnalia, which was to honor the god Saturn, the planet of which is the ruler of the sign of Capricorn. This feast was usually held on December 23 and lasted a few days. It was this ancient Roman orgy that was Larry David’s inspiration for the fictional holiday of Festivus (for the rest of us). As mentioned, the Winter Solstice takes place when the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn in the TROPICAL zodiac in December. However, in India the Winter Solstice is observed in January since in Vedic astrology practiced by Hindus, the SIDEREAL zodiac is used which is one sign behind the tropical zodiac to account for the actual procession of the Sun within the Milky Way galaxy. The Hindu Indians celebrate their Winter Solstice with a month-long festival call Magh Mela. Sweet delicacies are prepared for this special occasion and the height of the festivities happens on January 14, 2026 when observant Hindus wade in the cold Ganges River.

Whatever background or creed one may have, the transition from one calendar year to the next may not only be a time of joy and relief but that of reflection of what achievements the outgoing year brought and how the incoming year can be made better than the last.