Five curious health benefits of dark midwinter, according to science
As we reach the shortest day and the longest night, don’t despair, says Professor Miles Richardson. The natural connections that we make this time of year can boost our wellbeing and mindset in surprising ways
Christmas is a time of togetherness. We meet friends and family, and gifts are exchanged – a festival of relationships in many ways. Today’s winter solstice is a reminder of traditions linked to the natural cycles we’ve become increasingly detached from. It is the day when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, bringing the shortest day and the longest night.
Often called Yule, it has been celebrated for millennia across many cultures with gatherings and feasting as people salute the returning light that follows the shortest day. As dawn follows the longest darkness, it is a time of hope and renewal. It provides an opportunity to connect with natural cycles, to celebrate and deepen our relationship with the natural world.
[ Independent UK ]