You can look at the winter solstice in two ways. One, that it is the darkest day of the year (which might seem a little depressing); or, two (and this is the way my mom liked to think of it), that it is the return of the light. She actually threw winter solstice parties, as have pagans since god knows when. This ritual of celebrating light in the darkest time of year was appropriated by Christianity, which is why Christmas happens when it does, to line up with all the other festivities already in progress—never mind that Jesus is said to have been born in the summer. - Taylor Plimpton
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