Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we have just experienced the Winter Solstice, marking the year's shortest day and longest night. Meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, people have just celebrated the longest day and shortest night. Like the Fall Equinox, this time of year invites reflection and the search for hope amidst potential darkness.
Recently, two quotes reminded me of the enduring power of light:
"I like the night. Without the dark, we'd never see the stars." —Stephenie Meyer
"But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars." —Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Winter Solstice reminds us that even the longest night will pass, and with it comes the opportunity to find strength and hope. Across cultures, traditions offer wisdom on embracing light during dark times.
World Traditions
Cultures worldwide have long honored the Winter Solstice in unique and meaningful ways. Here are some examples:
Soyal
The Hopi people of northern Arizona celebrate Soyal with ceremonies and rituals centered on purification, dancing, and sometimes exchanging gifts. This tradition honors the solstice by welcoming the kachinas, or protective mountain spirits.
Yalda
Celebrated in Iran, Yalda marks the last day of the Persian month of Azar. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and celebrates the sun god Mithra's birth. Families gather to share foods like nuts and pomegranates; some stay awake throughout the night to welcome the morning sun.
Saturnalia
This ancient Roman festival marks the end of the planting season. Celebrated with games, feasts, and gift-giving, Saturnalia was a time of joy and revelry lasting several days.
St. Lucia’s Day
The Scandinavian festival of lights honors St. Lucia while incorporating earlier Norse solstice traditions. Fires and candles are lit to ward off spirits during the longest night.
Dong Zhi
One of China’s most important festivals, Dong Zhi celebrates winter’s arrival and reflects on the year’s harvest. Families come together to enjoy tang yuan (glutinous rice balls) and other traditional foods, emphasizing unity and gratitude.
What Can Inspire Us?
We can draw several universal themes from these cultural traditions: family, light, and hope. These themes burn brightest during dark times. For instance:
Yalda explicitly celebrates light’s triumph over darkness, reminding us of the importance of hope.
Whether biological or chosen, family is a source of strength and support. It includes those we hold dear, those who inspire us, and those we do not know who stand alongside us in solidarity.
Now is the time to kindle our inner lights, brightening the darkness with a constellation of hope and strength. Together, with the lights of our ancestors and our shared resolve, we can face the unknown and demonstrate resilience. Hope—anchored in community and shared purpose—is the beacon we need during long, dark nights.
Final Thoughts
Burn Brighter and Stronger
Do not let the darkness win. Stand together as a community with those you know, those you will know, and those who came before us. Together, we are strong.
The history of humankind has been filled with moments of hate, love, hope, and perseverance. And through it all, hope has endured.
What’s Next?
Find Your Inner Starlight
Consider where you want to shine and in what color. For example:
Will you be a purple light advocating for Black and Brown youth in schools?
Will you be a blue light as a student challenging a curriculum that lacks Afrocentric theories?
Visualize your starlight. Draw or create an image of it and place it somewhere you can see daily. Let it remind you of your purpose and potential.
Practical Tips and Suggestions
Reflect on your strengths, talents, and gifts, and decide how to use them to benefit yourself and others.
Immerse yourself in training programs, such as those offered by the CRESTSprogram, to decolonize your thinking and prepare for meaningful action.
Build a support network. Find your family or community, whether biological or chosen, and connect with them both preemptively and during times of need. The CRESTSprogram community can be a valuable resource.
Burn bright—and let your light inspire others to do the same.
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