1) The sun is at its closest distance in the Northern regions during the winter solstice.
False. The sun is at its furthest in the North. The winter solstice marks the shortest day of sunlight.
2) During the winter solstice, many Indian tribes held elaborate ceremonies to “call the sun back.”
True. Ceremonies would last for extended periods of time; as long as four to nine days. Their request: good health and enough food for the winter months. It works for me.
3) Yule wreaths were traditionally made of pine cones and berries.
False. Yule wreaths traditionally were made of evergreens, holly and ivy for protection of the home.
4) A decorative Yule log was burned on Christmas Eve.
Trick question. A Yule log was carried into the home and burned on Christmas Eve but it also burned for the following twelve consecutive days. It was lit with the previous year’s Yule log. In some regions, the ashes were kept and sprinkled on fruit trees for better production.
5). Wassailing, a traditional ceremony took place on Christmas Eve.
False. This ceremony typically took place on New Year’s Eve when the first cider crop was poured on the oldest apple tree’s roots in the orchard. It was done to thank the tree spirit for its crop and to ensure a good harvest for the coming year.
One of my all-time favorites, Dr. Seuss provides the inspirational quote of the day. "And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
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