21 December  the day of the wintersolstice - the turning point when the days start to get longer again. The wintersolstice has been an important event for people for thousands of years. It symbolises the rebirth of light and reminds us that even the darkest night comes to an end. Today, thermally insulated and well-heated houses protect us from the harshness of winter. Darkness can be banished thanks to light switches. And anyway... it never gets really dark in cities anyway. Nevertheless, we feel that the time around the winter solstice is something special. It invites contemplation and peace, reflection and contemplation. I am therefore sharing a few ideas with you on how you can consciously celebrate the winter solstice.

The wintersolstice, the shortest day of the year, marks a turning point, a moment of renewal. It's a time when the sun begins its journey back, promising longer days and warmer weather. To celebrate this special occasion, many cultures have turned to plants, each with its own unique symbolism and magical properties.

It's the time of the year again to collect chestnuts.

What are runes?

Wird in einem neuen Fenster geöffnet

No New Year's eve in Germany without fatty pastries like "Mutzemandeln" and "Mutzen" and in the Netherlands without eating "Oliebollen"

A little bit of history

The beginning of August ( 1st of August) marks the beginning of the first harvest month, which is named Freyfaxi or Schnitterfest, also known as Lammas or Lugnasadh. Many plants bear fruit, the grain is ripe, medicinal plants have a particularly high effect. The first cut was made at Freyfaxi/Schnitterfest , which marked the beginning of the following harvest season.

The time around 21 June was already regarded as special in ancient times. Especially in the northern countries , the light, the warmth of the sun and the long day were seen as a parable for the miracle of life. The fertility of man and cattle took a central position. For a long time, our late Stone Age ancestors' knowledge of celestial mechanics was thought to be poorly developed.

With the beginning of June, the real strawberry season starts here in the Netherlands and Germany.

🌿Old Walpurgisnacht Customs in Germany 🌿Beside the maypole dances, bonfires and witches gatherings at the "Brocken", the highest mountain at Harz/Germany there are a few other customs as well. Winters in Germany were long and hard for peasants who farmed. It is no wonder that people celebrated the coming of Spring, and surrounded it with magical rituals. Like May Day celebrations, dancing and jumping around, especially around fire is at the center of Walpurgis Night tradition.🌿Grain would grow as high as a farmer could jump over the Walpurgis Night fire… and to avoid bad weather and ensure good crops, farmers might put out bread with honey and butter in the fields. Extra care was taken to protect cattle from harm. Bells were blessed and hung from cow’s necks. Stable doors were locked and hung with three crosses.🌿The lady of the house would customarily leap over her broom and old brooms would be burned.🌿Walpurgisnacht fires were also used to burn anything that had worn out over the previous year, and straw men were made and endowed with things like illness and disease, even bad luck and burned in the fires as well.🌿 Children gathered greenery from Juniper, Hawthorn, Ash, Birch and Elder trees and hang it around the house and barn as offerings to the gods and goddesses.To pick young fresh Birch branches decorated with colorful ribbons and to fix it on the house in the night of the 30th of April to a young girl who's love you will win is still a custom among men in Germany.🌿