Between Us – Winter Solstice

By Rev. Clyde Grubbs, November 29, 2024

The earth is forever turning.

And we know this time of the receding sun is taking with it the year 2024. It happens at this latitude every year. Winter Solstice.

The Cherokee call this time “Us-gi-yi”.

The Time of the Snow Moon.

From the dark times of the snow moon, it was understood the sun would return.

Now, we look to earth scientists and astronomers to keep records of celestial movements. But long before computers, long before telescopes and planetariums, long before science as we know it, this task fell to the spiritual leaders of the village, the woman or man who served as a ceremonial leader, counselor, healer, historian, scientist, and magician. In performing these roles, the Elders and Spiritual Leaders helped the community give meaning to the changing year and anticipation of the coming year.

The dwindling of the sun’s light in autumn is a reminder that even as the old year dies, so must all living things. The Mid-Winter festivals enabled the community to accept this universal dying and to understand it is necessary for new life. When the daylight hours are shortest, we long for the assurance that spring will return and that the warm sun will nurture growing things and make the earth green. In this time, when the village is eating foods stored in the root cellar, dried beans, and dried corn, people in different parts of the world collect evergreen boughs as a symbol of hope and renewal.

In the last decades or so, we have become more conscious of our earth and our mutual dependence on trees and other living plants as we exchange our carbon dioxide for their oxygen. We must continue to be aware of the cycle of life: spring, summer, fall, winter, spring.

And so on and so on.

As the new year beckons, let us remember: we are creatures of this earth, with her waters and sky, and the cycles of this earth are part of who we are as humans. Happy Happy Yule to you!

Have yourself a merry, merry Solstice!