Winter Solstice

So Christmas is all about the birth of a child in the Middle East over 2000 years ago, is it? Well yes, and no. Before Christianity reached these shores, the end of December was celebrated by pagans as the turnaround of the year, and the celebrations centred upon the winter solstice. Doorways were spruced up with evergreens, mistletoe was worn in the hair as the longest day - the darkest hour of the hard winter - passed and the days started to grow.

It is highly likely that the Mound in Mountfield road, known in druidry circles as ‘the Tump’, was the centre point of an ancient solar clock which stretches across the Sussex countryside. On both the summer and winter solstice the sun can be seen to rise from ancient barrows on the horizon, purposefully placed there by our distant ancestors. The Tump, in effect, worked like Stonehenge as a central point for solstice celebrations. With this in mind the Antiquarian Society are arranging a winter solstice celebration, early on the morning of December 22nd. It will be attended by members of that mysterious organisation, as well as by astronomers, archeologists, and anyone else who cares to turn up. You are advised to bring warm clothes, flasks of tea, and ‘breakfast in true antiquarian style’. Meet up at 7am; the sunrise can be seen at around 8am. Then go back and deck your house with sprigs of holly, as we’ve been doing for thousands of years.