The drive to mark these seminal moments in the calendar of the Earth is of course deeply embedded into the psyche on mankind, and the simple Stonehenge gathering is a microcosm of festivals and observances all over the planet, which mark the moment which point once again to longer days, heralding rebirth and a renewed future.
In 7th Century Japan for example, festivals marked the re emergence of the sun godess Amaterasu (or Amateras), from her seclusion in a cave. Aspects of this tradition have continued to this day on New Years Eve in the country.
In East Asian countries, the Dōngzhì Festival or The Winter Solstice Festival or The Extreme of Winter is one of the most important festivals, and is celebrated in various incarnations in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam and elsewhere in the Far East. During the Dongzhi solar term on or around December 21, sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest.
The origins of this festival can be traced back to philosophies of balance and harmony in the cosmos, epitomised by the concept on Yin and Yang. After this celebration, days will be longer with an increase in daylight hours and commensurate increase in positive energy flow.
Of course in the West, and globally in the modern era, the theme of rebirth is melded with the Christian tradition of the advent of God in human form, born at the dark time of the year to bring light into the world and signify new life and the renewed possibiliy to connect mankind back to creation. The event is observed on December 25, which was the winter solstice at the time the Julian Calendar was established.
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