The magical moment par excellence is the day of the winter solstice, when the darkness of the night reaches its maximum extent.
The ancient Indo-European peoples celebrated with great parties and events, collective and family, the rebirth of the sun that conquered the darkness. Testimonies of great celebrations in honor of the "Sole invictus" are attested in the traditions of the Indo-European peoples.
Mother of all the great Western festivities, it was born from ancient pre-Christian agrarian and astronomical rites. During the feasts of the Winter Solstice, in the West, great theatrical performances, dances, ritual fights and songs were held that recalled the eternal struggle between good-light and evil-darkness.
For the ancients, the Winter Solstice was very important, because this marked (and marks) the rebirth of light, being the day when the days begin to lengthen and the night gives back space to the day. In ancient Rome, during the Saturnalia the houses were adorned with branches of fir trees, symbols of life, the climax of the festival was given by the birth of Mitra, the solar god. This date, according to anthropologists, was chosen by Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ, the light of the world.
But… "If the feast of Christmas in traditions and customs is embodied in the ancient pre-Christian feasts, the authentic meaning of CHRISTMAS for Christians is different" says Msgr. Vincenzo Paglia, president of the World Biblical Federation and continues "... in no religion and in no historical period was the birth of Jesus contemplated. That is to say the incarnation of the son of God in a poor and defenseless child" and again "Christmas it is not bought, it is sought, it is accepted in its message of love and closeness to the poor…. God's closeness to peoples ".
Pagan feast is that of the New Year, a moment in which you can leave again, have new hopes and projects. The Solstice coincided with the start of the New Year. Just as we greeted the old sun, we welcomed the new one, offering a new look at the days to come.
The magical moment of the Winter Solstice.
The possibility of opening up to the new sun, leave the ballast of the old year to sail in a new sea.
Many beliefs were born and died over time on this date, but only one is believed to have remained alive:
The ancients believed that whoever did not participate in the celebrations on this day would be welcomed by a year full of restlessness and suffering. The ancients believed that those who did not participate in the celebrations on this day brought with them all the problems and bad moments of the old sun with them in the new sun.
So let's all celebrate the new sun together.
Programme:
Feast of the Winter Solstice in Pezze di Greco.
21 December 2011
Piazza xx Settembre and National Course start at 19,00
Shows:
Bastia Umbra Theater Company (PG)
Christmas White
Buskers
Traditional dance groups
Food and wine stands
Info:
Antonio Zizzi 327 7972664 Piero Moretti 333 3614742 Angelo Perrino 3287561252
The events may undergo changes, therefore it is advisable to check the event by contacting the organizing bodies directly.
Caccia Passione is not responsible for any changes to the dates of individual events.