Hirnos・Alban Arthan

Hirnos・Byrddydd
Winter Solstice
Long-night・Short-day
December 20th - 31st

Significance of Time, Season, and the Life Cycle: Unlike all the other festivals on this liturgical calendar, the Winter Solstice is the only one which falls very close to a known recorded date for an actual ancient Celtic pre-Christian festival: the feast day of the Gaulish horse goddess Epona, known as Eponalia. To my knowledge, this is the only feast day celebrating a Celtic deity which has actually been found recorded with a known specific date on an ancient Pagan calendar, which was found in modern northern Italy (formerly Cisalpine Gaul). Epona herself was so important that she is the only known Celtic deity to have her worship adopted by the Romans who were invading and colonizing the Gauls and other Celts at the time. Her feast day was placed amongst other highly-honored deities during the very popular Saturnalia celebrations, on or around December 18th (technically, it is listed as "15 days before the Calends of January"). Evidence has been found in the archaeological record that she was also worshipped by Germanic peoples, Greeks, and possibly even Syrians -- a powerful and popular goddess, indeed.

For me, this is the time of year that I set aside feast days for Rhiannon -- the Welsh horse goddess whose story is so intimately tied to themes of personal power, motherhood, sovereignty, the land, suffering, and loss. The parallels between Rhiannon and Epona have been observed by many (SOURCES). To me, the parallels are just too numerous for me to think them likely to be coincidence when held up to Occam's Razor, especially considering that Epona was frequently depicted with foals and dogs and birds in her ancient iconography, and all three of these play important roles in Rhiannon's surviving lore.

In the cycle of the day, Winter Solstice symbolizes midnight: It is the peak of darkness, and there is still a long way to go before sunrise, but from here on the sun is past the half-way point and is on a return journey back towards dawn, even though it won't be seen yet for many hours.

In the seasons of life, the Winter Solstice represents the state of death but also the rekindling of the spark that will lead to rebirth. The plants are dormant, many animals are sleeping in hibernation, people need more rest and sleep, the crop fields are bare, the nights are long and the winds growing ever more cold, the woods are quiet and birdsong is scarce. The Earth appears to be dead. Many creatures, plants, and people do in fact fail to survive the harsh weather, lack of shelter, and scarcity of food that lies ahead. And yet, it is here in the depths of darkness, when bitter cold and further struggle still lie ahead, when all hope seems to have been in vain, that the promise of the returning of the light and of life comes to fruition. The tomb of the earth begins its transformation into the womb so that it may harbor new life yet to come. It is a time of great magic and great mystery... It is hard to think that new life could come back up from that cold, hard ground where everything has fallen in death. But the seeds of life are preserved hidden within it, and the light will return after this darkest hour. Therein rests our hope.

Dates and Days: Winter Solstice is the longest festival period on my liturgical calendar, lasting twelve days, the primary three of which are dedicated to Rhiannon. For reasons of practicality, and since Epona's feast day was most certainly tied to the solstice time, I have moved the date of beginning celebrations by a couple of days so as to be closer to the solstice itself, starting on the 20th of December. The 12-day festival period ends on New Year's Eve, December 31st. (Since the solstice is not on a fixed date, the actual observances are flexible so they can coincide correctly with the day of the solstice, but the first day needs to be on the 20th in order for the 12th day to land on New Year's Eve.)

Significance of Themes and Spiritual Meaning: With months of bleak, cold winter lying ahead, the primary themes of Hirnos for me are light and hope -- hope that will ultimately be fulfilled. Of course it signifies the literal light of the returning sun to illuminate the literal darkness, and the hope we need to get us through the harsh winter to come. But for me (and many others around the world from a variety of cultures and locations) it also signifies our hope for the return of life and joy when death and suffering come upon us, and the hope to make it through all things metaphorically dark -- those most deeply painful things in our lives.

Despite the looming darkness and the promise of death that we acknowledged at Calan Gaeaf, we held out hope. We welcomed the renewing rest of death only to find ourselves in the midst of what now appears to be utter darkness, where all we can see ahead are long, impending months of bitter cold, empty of color and devoid of life, to greet us. And yet, it is here, when all seems lost, where all is barren, cold, silent, grey, dark, and dead -- it is here that the spark of hope, the spark of light, the spark of life, the treasures of darkness are found. And it is here where the cycles of the Earth, the cycles of the seasons, and the cycles of life teach us that although life is indeed harsh, in the end, hope is not futile. The light will again come, even though there may yet be more suffering ahead. The light does return to us, but the return of life is yet later to follow, and so our patience and faith are still to be further tested.

In the guise of death, the horse goddess makes her procession as the Mari Lwyd -- a procession that is at once both public and intimate. Bumbling joyfully about town despite her macabre appearance, venturing into each home and gathering place that will welcome her, she blesses the homes with her medicines and reminds people that the promise of the return of light and life has been kept, even if it is hard to see it right now in the depths of death and darkness. It may seem insignificant, like the light shed by the distant twinkling stars, but her tomb of death that lies deep within her body -- the land -- has already begun its slow transformation back into the gestating womb of life even though it will still appear that all is dead for months to come.

Practice: This multi-day festival period includes feast days for multiple deities (much like Saturnalia and other big festivals in ancient Pagan times did). Winter Solstice occurs at a time of year that is celebrated with holidays of light and life in many cultures and traditions throughout the ages and across the world, such as the Pagan Germanic Yuletide, the Roman Saturnalia, and later the Christian Christmas. Some traditions widely practiced in the Americas today are historically from Germanic Northern Europe, while some hail from Pagan Rome's Saturnalia (a major multi-day Roman festival of which Epona's feast day was the second day), and still others are of Christian significance or more modern design.

Regardless, as Pagans and polytheists, we can rest assured that the Christians do not have a cultural monopoly on decorating with lights (we are literally celebrating the return of the light here). They certainly can make no exclusive claim to candles, gift-giving, decorating with wreaths and greenery, role-reversals, singing and music, general merry-making, or feasting -- practices which date at least all the way back to ancient Pagan Rome during Saturnalia. Did I mention that the feast days of Sol Invictus (the Victorious Sun) and the hugely popular resurrecting god Mithras fell on 25 December? Yeah... don't worry about culturally appropriating from the Christians on this one. (Jesus likely wasn't even born in winter -- the church chose Christmas to fall on this date because of its huge popularity with the Pagans they were trying to convert.)

I observe this festival period by lighting a candle at dawn each day, adding a new candle to those being lit every day until all are lit on the final day, for a total of 12 candles. These candles are arranged in a circle to represent the wheel of the sun, the wheel of the seasons, the wheel of the year, the wheel of life itself. The reason for the festival lasting 12 days is mainly due to its being the major festival leading up to the solar new year. The festival period begins on December 20th (which sometimes is the day of Winter Solstice itself, but the 21st or 22nd are more usual) and just so happens (ahem) to have the final day land on New Year's Eve. Each of the festival's 12 days reflects one of the 12 months of the solar calendar year which is about to end. There are also 3 days dedicated to each of the 4 seasons of the year. (You may also recall the popular carol The 12 Days of Christmas? How convenient that Solstice also so-happens to have two syllables for easy adaptation to Pagan lyrics.)

It is a time of reviewing the year's achievements and congratulating accomplishments. I assess my progress towards more long-term goals, and let go of goals that are no longer realistic. I set new intentions for the coming year, both within myself and in the world around me. I purify myself and make serious vows to put forth true effort to live my virtues in the coming year. These 9 virtues are:

Wisdom
Integrity
Autonomy
Responsibility
Generosity
Compassion
Excellence
Valor
Balance

The 12 Days of Hirnos:

20 December, Nos Fari "Mari Night"
- Special Foods
  Drink: Wassail (of course!)
  Dessert: Crab Apple Mini Pies (delicious recipe from Gather Victoria)
- Solstice Tree Blessing Ritual: (We usually do this before the 20th so as not to wait until the last minute, but I'm putting it in this section.) In the light of day time before festivities officially begin, a living evergreen tree is selected to be decorated and especially honored (not the poisonous and parasitic yew which possibly was planted by Christians to take over the original sacred trees on holy sites, per an in-person lecture I listened to from Ronald Hutton in 2015). For blessing a tree that is to be left alive where it grows (my family's preference): the tree is blessed with a splash of water, incense is burnt (use safety precautions), and biodegradable natural offerings left at the site where it stands, such as compost, bird seed, etc. If you are going to be cutting the tree, and offerings are not allowed to be left in the area where it is located, leave the solid offerings at the foot of another tree in its stead, and leave a simple offering of water at the tree you will fell. If it is to be felled to be brought into the house (be it from a tree farm or from private property), a prayer giving thanks for its life is performed before the felling and the tree is carried off into the home ceremoniously. If a tree is bought that is already cut, these rituals will instead be performed once the tree is brought home, but all proper thanks must still be rendered, with offerings left outside beneath another tree. If a fake tree is to be decorated in the home, then any respected tree near the home or in a favorite park or other place may receive the blessing.
- Candles: The first of the 12 candles that represent this 12-day festival is lit today. This candle represents January of this year that will soon be over, nearly a full year ago now. What can you remember from January? What are you glad for from that time, and what are you glad is over with? Were there any accomplishments or lessons from January that you wish to carry forward with you into the new year? Was there anything from January that you absolutely do not wish to carry forward with you, and needs to be left in the past?
- Ritual Blessing of the Mari Lwyd & Her Ribbons: We recall the fears we faced and the loved ones we both celebrated and mourned at Calan Gaeaf, as we look now to the promise of returning light in the darkest hour. We open ritual and make offerings to the deity we are honoring -- in this case, Rhiannon -- per the usual fashion. The Ribbons of Hope are colorful ribbons that will be tied to the Mari Lwyd, and each ritual participant chooses one. One of these ribbons is longer than the others. Before giving out ribbons, participants are asked who is willing or desiring to guise as the Mari Lwyd this year. Any who are unwilling choose their ribbons first, from a pile that does not include the longer ribbon. Unless the group is so small that it is necessary to repeat, the person who guised as the Mari last year must choose their ribbon from the pile that does not include the longer ribbon this year. Those who wish to be the Mari choose their ribbons from a pile of ribbons that includes the longer ribbon (ensure the number of ribbons in the pile is equal to the number of willing participants so that one of them is guaranteed to choose the longer ribbon).
  
  We then contemplate our hopes for the blessings of transformation and renewal we need. These hopes and needs are written by each participant on their Ribbon of Hope (that's just what I call it because of its purpose in this ritual -- neither the writing on the ribbons nor calling them "ribbons of hope" are Welsh traditions to my knowledge). The Mari skull herself is also blessed, and Rhiannon is formally invoked. She is requested to bestow her favor and blessings through the Mari and accept our offerings of honoring her through ritual, shared tradition, song, dance, and charity. Those who were willing now compare the length of their ribbons to see who will take on the guise of the Mari. This person is also ritually cleansed and blessed, and Rhiannon is requested to channel her blessings to others through this person who will represent her in the procession. We then gather around the white shroud that will cover the guiser to agree upon a symbol to paint on the shroud that represents our year that is about to end and the hopes we have for the future. (It may be helpful to have some symbols ready to choose from if nothing immediately comes to anyone's mind.) The ritual is then closed in the usual way.
- The Mari Lwyd Procession: Hidden beneath a long, crisp-white shroud painted with symbols significant to the themes of the season and bedecked with the Ribbons of Hope and jingling bells, the chosen person carries the decorated horse's skull on a stick protruding from the top of the enclosed shroud. The guising Mari visits the door of every building that has agreed ahead of time to be visited, seeking entrance to bestow Rhiannon's blessing. (It is best to get permission a couple of weeks ahead of time and to remind those you'll be visiting a couple of days in advance. People may not know how to react to a horse skull being toted around without prior warning, after all, and children may be frightened by her appearance.) She is accompanied by an entourage of enthusiastic company, with instruments such as drums, bells, pipes, and/or stringed instruments. They sing carols to remind people of the promise of light and life to come, and also request entrance into homes and businesses via song. The white mare dances along, and playfully snips her bony jaws, seeking donations of money, food, or drink. Money and food collected are to be given to charity (the drinks or small snacks can be for the Mari and her entourage to keep their energy up). If anyone from the places visited wishes to, they may also add their own Ribbons of Hope to the Mari. Collections of food are donated to the poor and charities, while money may be entirely donated or else split between the group itself and charity (as per previous arrangements disclosed ahead of time to those visited). Drink and perishable foods are consumed by the person guising as the white mare and her entourage to keep up their energy for the night's procession.
  
  For more information about the Mari Lwyd, including how to make one, please see my 2022 blog post here.
  
  The Lyrics to the Mari Lwyd Song that is sung at the door of the places she visits are as follows. This is an amalgamation of verses from traditional Mari Lwyd songs from Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire, which I copied out of Rhiannon Ifan's bilingual book Mari Lwyd (2013). Versions of the song varied by region, but the tune was often the same, and most of them began with something like "Wel dyma ni'n dŵad/dywad". Improvisation and regional changes to the lyrics were/are common, so I see no issue with making a few regional and situational changes myself, although I have mostly stuck with a direct copy of parts of the two regional songs of Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire. I did change a total of three words from the original Welsh to reflect that not all singers are masculine, and that we're singing for the Winter Solstice. The English lyrics are very slightly modified from an exact translation of the Welsh so as to fit the number of syllables in the tune for singing, so that the song can be sung in both Welsh and English, but I have kept it as close to a literal translation as possible while still making the number of syllables fit.
  
  Cymraeg (Welsh) English (Saesneg)
  
  Wel, dyma ni'n dŵad Well, here we are coming,
  Gyfeillion diniwad All my innocent friends,
  I ofyn am gennad To ask for permission
  I ofyn am gennad To ask for permission
  I ofyn am gennad i ganu! To ask for permission to sing!
  
  Mae Mari Lwyd yma Mari Lwyd is here
  Llawn sêr a rhubanau, Dressed in stars and ribbons,
  Mae'n werth i roi goleu She's worth shining light on
  Mae'n werth i roi goleu She's worth shining light on
  Mae'n werth i roi goleu i'w gwelad! She's worth shining light on to see her!
  
  O! Tynnwch y bollta, O! Draw back the door bolts,
  Agorwch y drysa, Throw open all the doors,
  I gwmni y washael To the wassail comp'ny
  I gwmni y washael To the wassail comp'ny
  I gwmni y washael rhowch groeso! To the wassail comp'ny give welcome!
  
  Mae Mari Lwyd lawen Merry Mari Lwyd
  Am ddod i'ch tŷ'n rhonden, Is come to your abode,
  A chanu yw wi diben Her intent is to sing
  A chanu yw wi diben Her intent is to sing
  A chanu yw wi diben, mi dybiaf! Her intent is to sing, I reckon!
  
  When leaving the place visited, the following lines are sung:
  
  O dyma enw'r feinwen O here is the maiden
  Sydd yn codi gyda'r seren, Who rises with the stars,
  A hon yw'r washael fawr ei chlod And here is the great praiseworthy wassail
  Sy'n canu bod yn llawen! Which sings to make us merry!
  
  Mae'n gaseg lwysgedd, wisgi, She's a lovely, lively mare,
  Mae miloedd yn ei moli, And many thousands praise her,
  Ei phen hi'n gnotog enwog, Her head is famous and knotty,
  O foddion llawn difaeddu! Full of unsurpassed medicines!
  
  Dymunwn i'ch lawenydd We wish you all much joy
  I gynnal blwyddyn newydd! To live a very good new year!
  Tra paro'r gŵr i dincial cloch, As long as the man rings his bell,
  Wellwell y boch chwi beunydd! May all keep improving for you!
  
  (Cân y Fari tiwn) (The Mari Song tune)
  Wel diolch i chitha We thank all of you here
  Am groeso i ninna, For your welcome to us,
  A nes Hirnos nesa And until next Solstice
  A nes Hirnos nesa And until next Solstice
  A nes Hirnos nesa, ffarwelwch! And until next Solstice, farewell!

21 December, Hirnos "Long Night" (Winter Solstice most often falls on 21 or 22 December, but it is a moving date that is not the same every year -- we tend to keep the Winter Solstice observances on the actual date, or as close to the actual date as possible, rather than strictly adhering to the date of the 21st. When the solstice does not fall on the 21st, we just swap out one of the other days' observances with it.)
- Solstice Feast: Most of the day time is spent preparing the Solstice Feast in my house. A large glazed ham, spiced honey-roasted parsnips and carrots, creamed spinach or kale, homemade eggnogg, sugar plums, and a chocolate yule log with mascarpone cream filling.
- Candles: The first and second of the 12 candles that represent this 12-day festival are lit today. The second candle represents February of this year. What are you glad for from that time, and what are you glad is over with? Were there any accomplishments or lessons from February that you wish to carry forward with you into the new year? Was there anything from February that you absolutely do not wish to carry forward with you, and needs to be left in the past?
- Wreath Blessing Ritual: A ritual is held about 1 hour before sunset to bless and decorate the wreath before hanging it on the front door. The wreath represents all significant cycles -- the wheel of the year, the cycles of life, of time, of days, of seasons, of highs and lows, of suffering and joy, of prosperity and struggling, the wheels of the sun and moon, the symbolism goes on and on.
- Long Night Vigil: People do everything they can to stay up all night -- it all begins with hanging up the wreath (and decorating the tree, if you have one indoors). Then, we play games, dance, snack, sing songs, play music, divine the future, and tell stories and jokes. It is a fun reminder that it is easier to make it through the darkest times of our lives with the presence and help of friends and family when possible. (It's also a reminder of the value of rest -- we're going to get tired!) Everyone goes outside to welcome the sun and the promised return of the light at dawn before finally getting some sleep.

Hirnos・Byrddydd Winter Solstice Long-night・Short-day December 20th - 31st

Hirnos・Byrddydd
Winter Solstice
Long-night・Short-day
December 20th - 31st