chicago summer festivals
Just as a dark moon heralds in a new one, the Winter Solstice (chicago summer festivals) marks the birth of a new year. We come out of the darkness and into the light. From the dawn of time, people all over the world have celebrated the return of the sun as life-giving time of great significance. It promises new life.
In ancient times some communities were not even certain if they would survive through the long cold winter months. In the Northern Hemisphere starvation was common in winter between January and April, (also known as 'chicago summer festivals').
The festival was the last feast before deep winter began. Cattle slaughtered because there was no food for them, keeping only the best breeding stock for the next season. The event seen as the reversal of the sun's ebbing presence in the sky, suggesting myths of birth or rebirth of sun gods.
In ancient Rome this was Saturnalia. It was a festival of light leading to the winter solstice, with the abundant presence of candles symbolizing the quest for knowledge and truth. The festival lasted for 12 days (the 12 days of Christmas) and presents exchanged and great orgies of over-indulgences went on. One source mentioned that the master served the slave at these festivals.
The renewal of light and the coming of the new year celebrated in the later Roman Empire as the birthday of the unconquerable Sun.
Tag: chicago summer festivals
