The Solstice and Christmas

Today's service - held in Adelaide on 15th December, 2019, is a team effort introduced by John Hall with today's address - "The Solstice and Christmas" being presented by Barbara Willow and Jane Brooks. They ponder the association between the Solstices and Christmas which coincided with the Winter Solstice and the ancient pagan festivals that occurred in the Northern Hemisphere. After bringing in the harvest and the onset of winter, people had more time to celebrate the simple joys of life, fertility and love. Early Christians also chose the Winter Solstice to celebrate the Birth of Jesus and the pagan festivals that preceded Christmas, influenced how Christmas is celebrated in song, dance and folk-law - even here in Australia. Listen on!