It’s the day of the Winter Solstice! That is, it’s the astronomical marking of the point when the Sun’s position in the sky is at the greatest angular distance from equatorial plane. And according to your perspective, it’s either the shortest day or the longest night of the year. There are so many cultures in history that have recognized this “midwinter” point as a day of significance, feasting, or worship. You can find references to observances held on this day from ancient Egypt to Celtic Ireland to 7th Century Japan. You can even find solstice references from Native American cultures.

If you’ve chosen the day of the winter solstice for a wedding day, you could incorporate the feel and flavors of some of these ancient festivals. Sometimes called the festival of lights, this was often the last great feast day before deep winter.

If you’ve planned an evening wedding, the festival of lights theme would be a lovely setting. Imagine using a silver and white color scheme or white and evergreens! Include white lights, tea lights, and a variety of candles to help soften and set the mood. A medieval theme would also be a distinctive nod to this ancient tradition. If you’ll have any kind of patio or outside area, fire pits and chimeneas will add to the cozy mood. They will also keep any guests who stepped out for fresh air all warm and toasty.

If you’re looking for more solstice information, try Candlegrove.com and the Wikipedia.