It’s getting darker and darker in Montreal, and as I was recommended yesterday to perhaps take some vitamin D yesterday because of a paleness characteristic of early Montreal winter, I decided to think about the days that will lengthen from the day of the winter solstice.
Because since the autumn equinox on September 22, the days have been getting shorter in Montreal – and if we’re ready for the long winter nights, we should be ready for the longest night of the year.
The winter solstice has always been celebrated with lots of lights, gifts and bonfires. It’s this long night that gives rise to the end-of-year festivities. To spend the winter solstice in Montreal, we’ve got a few ideas…
The winter solstice
The winter solstice is an atronomic event due to the tilt of the earth’s axis in relation to the planet’s orbit around the sun. From the equinox (September 22) to the winter solstice (December 21), the northern hemisphere – which includes Canada – is farther from the sun’s warm rays than the rest of the year.
We get less sun, and the days get shorter and colder (very quickly this year, brrrrr…..). Nights grow longer, culminating in the longest night of the year, the night of the solstice.
It’s also the official start of winter -astronomically speaking, even though it’s been snowing in Montreal for the past month.
This year, the winter solstice is Sunday, December 21 at 10:03 a.m. (Eastern time) in Montreal. We’ll have 10:07 a.m. during the day, and 1:53 p.m. at night…
The return of light
After this long night, the hours of sunshine will lengthen – and in almost every culture, this return of light has been celebrated in one way or another for millennia.
The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a 7-day festival of candlelight, decorations and gifts. At Stonehenge, which aligns itself with the sun during the summer solstice, the druids return in winter.
Many native cultures also celebrate the solstice with pow-wows and feasts based on light and the cycle of the seasons.
Not forgetting, of course, the Catholic feast of Christmas and Yule, its pagan ancestor. All these festivals and celebrations have similar motifs;
- lighting candles or fires
- gift-giving
- all-night celebrations
- celebrating with family, community and children
- honor the cycle of the seasons and look forward to the next – hence New Year’s resolutions
And the solstice in Montreal?
To celebrate the winter solstice in Montreal – and because during this long, cold night, we’re going to need to look at life in a very romantic way– we recommend..:
- go out for cocktails with friends and family until late, and share nostalgic stories (with fries)
- turning off all the lights in our apartment (and it’s economical) and dining by candlelight
- build a fire in the fireplace (if possible)
- make a list of good resolutions for next year
and if you’re in need of candles, inspiration or a good dose of magic for the solstice, we recommend a visit to December’s witchy Maleficarum market… Somber Solstice.
For the winter solstice, Montreal’s gothic and witchy market organizes a special holiday edition… Season’s Creepings…
Where? 4000 rue Saint-Ambroise, suite 278
When? December 20 and 21, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How? free admission
Happy Solstice!