DON’T MESS WITH THE SOLSTICE

‘Twas the day before solstice and all through the town people wore masks…  

Happy Winter Solstice. In this leap-year the shortest day of the year – with the longest period of night - happens on Monday December 21,2020 (at 2:02a in Northern California). Thank goodness. Astronomically speaking, the winter solstice ensues in our Northern Hemisphere when the sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky; when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.

Amid the never-ending reminders of how many more tragic cases and deaths from the coronavirus occurred every yesterday, I’m ready to celebrate that each day will now gain a minute or two of sunshine. My celebration, and perhaps yours, is not new. Humanity has been solstice reveling for thousands of years.

Since before written human history, many late Neolithic and Bronze Age cultures observed the winter solstice as an important time of the year, punctuated by festivals, rituals and ceremonies. They marked the symbolic death and rebirth of the sun.

Physical examples include Newgrange (built in ~3200BCE) in Ireland and Stonehenge (built in ~3000BCE) in England – both constructed before the Pyramids of Giza – that are oriented for the winter solstice.

This astronomical event was often used to guide activities, such as the mating and slaughter of animals, the sowing of crops and the managing of winter food reserves. Starvation was common during the bare winter months. Scores of cultural practices are derived from the winter solstice time, eventually including Christmas. But Christmas festivities on December 25 were a long time coming.

Centuries before, Romans had been feasting during solstice-inspired Saturnalia. This festival honored Saturn, the god of plenty and liberation. Emperor Caligula extended Saturnalia’s party-filled celebrations to five days ending on December 23, as depicted below. Saturnalia included banquets, carnivals, merriment, gift-giving and no doubt debauchery. 

Happy Saturnalians

Christian authorities took over 300 years to decide that December 25 was their savior’s actual birthday. This date conveniently coincided with centuries-old Saturnalia party time. Christianity cleverly co-opted this ancient winter festival. It was easier to convert people into a growing, newish religion if the measures of daily life didn’t really change much. These early Christians partially succeeded even though they originally promoted the idea that the Messiah’s birthday was a serious time to be marked by reflection and abstinence. Their opposition to pagan customs like placing wreaths on front doors and carousing was an utter failure. Putting time-worn festivities back into the bottle proved to be a lost cause.

Nevertheless, over the centuries other fervent authorities have ignored the early Christians’ mistake of attempted eradication what they saw as citizens’ solstice-Christmas licentiousness. These authorities include the revolutionary anti-monarchist Oliver Cromwell, who as lord protector of England and leader of the English Parliament abolished Christmas in 1644. That’s right, he and his MPs agreed that if the people where not going to celebrate contemplatively, they shouldn’t celebrate at all. Partying was forbidden.

Cromwell’s subjects disagreed with riots ensuing across England. Revelry endured on the sly during the solstice and beyond. English Puritans and Calvinists continued to preserve their tightly-straightlaced, alcohol-free Christmases. Those must have been fun-filled times in the English Commonwealth republic.

But after the death of Cromwell (from malarial fever), Charles II, a mead-loving 30-year-old royal, became king in 1660. He forced the puritans to re-learn the lesson of history: Politicians who niggle with the holidays do so at their own peril. Mulled wine, ale and hard cider were joyfully served once again during the solstice. That, fortunately, continues.

However, some 360 years later, the coronavirus’ incessant spread has egged on authorities to consider strict injunctions on our social behavior during the solstice-holiday season to preserve public health. They certainly have justification; daily US coronavirus cases now exceed 240,000, an all-time high. But cancelling Christmas merriment remains an unpopular option.

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governors and other heads of state have often, but not always, cut the public some slack regarding this year’s Covid-filled holiday restrictions to mitigate public backlash. Shown below are a few examples.

The US.  We’ve had no real president since the evening of November 3 (actually 1/20/17, but whatever). Nonetheless, the CDC’s current guidelines actively discourage holiday gatherings and travel. The guidelines state: The safest way to celebrate winter holidays is at home with the people who live with you. Travel and gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase your chances of getting or spreading Covid-19 or the flu. Ta da, you’ve been forewarned once again.

California.  Governor Gavin Newsom has tightened restrictions, based on the percent of available capacity in local hospitals’ intensive care units (ICUs). Counties need at least 15% available ICU capacity to avoid stronger restrictions.

On December 17, the SF Bay Area’s ICU availability dropped to 12.6%, leading to an immediate, tighter stay-at-home order. This regional order prohibits private gatherings of any size, requires closure of all commercial operations except for critical infrastructure and selected retail operations and mandates 100% masking and physical distancing. Once triggered, these orders will remain in effect for 3 weeks (through January 7) at least. Santa and his widely-located elves will not be happy.

The United Kingdom.  Temporary “Christmas Bubbles” are allowed. A brief four-day respite around Christmas day will be allowed, has been introduced to allow people to celebrate in some fashion. There will be no travel restrictions and people will be able to mix indoors and stay overnight. The number of people who can mix is limited, nevertheless.

Italy.  The government has announced strict limits. Many Italian regions already have partial lockdowns. A 2½ week  ban on inter-regional travel beginning on December 21 has been announced. In addition, people will not be allowed to leave their homes on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with some exceptions. A curfew from 10p to 5a will also be in place. In a meager attempt to assuage his upset citizens, the Italian PM Giuseppe Conte has reassured children of all ages that Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) will definitely be visiting them on the 25th, as he is exempt from travel restrictions. Good luck with that Mr. Conte, and thanks for tiny favors.

France.  Travel restrictions are somewhat eased over Christmas. France has issued a nationwide curfew from 8p to 6a, which will be lifted on Christmas Eve, when the French celebrate, but not on New Year's Eve. Restaurants, bars, theatres and movies will stay closed. The flames of resentment are mounting and should be brighter by December 31.

Such restrictions are neither surprising nor inappropriate, given Covid’s onslaught. But still, siding with Saturnalians on Monday seems worthy as more light begins shining on us. Just don’t mess too much with our festivities, please. 

     Addendum. You may have heard that the Saturnalians have struck again and are providing a rare, additional celestial highlight for Monday’s Winter Solstice. Actually, it’s both the Saturnalians and the Jupiterians.

During this solstice Saturn and Jupiter will be visibly dancing together in our heavens the closest they have been in a very long time. It’s called their Grand Conjunction, the likes of which hasn’t been noticeable at night, nor this close, since Saint Francis of Assisi died. For those of you, like me, who haven’t kept up with Francis’ life, he passed 794 years ago in 1226. 

The media has dubbed this Grand Saturn-Jupiter Conjunction “the Christmas Star” to draw popular attention to it. Perhaps you remember singing the We Three Kings carol that mentions the Westward-leading still-proceeding three kings of Orient following the “star of wonder, star of night.” Yup, this time around it’s no longer the star of wonder, but a much less poetically-labelled Grand Conjunction.

If you’re in the San Francisco area on the solstice, go outside on Monday, look fairly close to the horizon after sunset, probably between 7p and 8p (Saturn and Jupiter set at about 8:27p) in Western sky (~249° W) to see this solstice’s unique “double-header”; the Grand Conjunction during the solstice itself. Onward through the stars…