SLAVIC WINTER SOLSTICE: THE RETURN OF THE SUN

For the ancient Slavs, the winter solstice was not merely an astronomical event — it was a moment of profound symbolism. It was believed to be the night when the Sun dies and is born again, and with it the hope for survival through the long winter.

The longest night of the year was a time of powerful rituals, because the light “loses the battle,” but after the turning point it returns with renewed strength.

Rituals such as keeping the hearth fire alive, lighting candles, and bringing evergreen branches into the home originate from a time when people believed that the warmth of the flame helped the Sun to be reborn. This solar cult later became intertwined with Christmas traditions, though its roots are much older.

For the Slavs, the return of the Sun was the return of life — a symbol of rebirth, fertility, and the protection of the household.

References:

Čajkanović, V. (1994). Mit i religija u Srba. Beograd: SKZ.

Radenković, L. (2012). Slovenska mitologija: enciklopedijski rečnik. Nolit.

Ivanov, V., & Toporov, V. (1974). Slavic Mythology. Moscow: Nauka.