With little understanding of the Earth-sun system and what astronomical bodies were, many of our predecessor’s Winter Solstice celebrations marked ritual celebrations of the death and rebirth or ...

the winter solstice marks the symbolic death and rebirth of the sun as it began the reversal of longer nights and shorter days. The western world can thank ancient Rome for its midwinter traditions.

The winter solstice occurs when one of the Earth's poles is at its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice ... climates so in many cultures, the midwinter festival was the last feast ...