belt

Orion aligns tonight and the sun stands still.

Questing for information concerning the countries that observed the winter solstice i was amazed by the long list of celebrations when i searched Wikipedia.


The winter solstice is when the three stars in Orion's belt align with Sirius to show where the sun will rise tomorrow. This marks the darkest and shortest period of daylight of the year. Winter Solstice marks the end of the wanning days and the beginning of the progression of the sun to its highest and brightest in mid summer.

Cultures all around the world mark this time of year with celebrations and observances.

Observances
Amaterasu celebration, Requiem of the Dead (7th century Japan)
Beiwe Festival (Sámi of Northern Fennoscandia)
Choimus, Chaomos (Kalash of Pakistan)
Christmas, Natalis Domini (4th century Rome, 11th century England, Christian)
Deuorius Riuri (Gaul)
Deyga-n (Zoroastrian)
Do-ngZhì Festival, To-ji Festival (East Asia, Vietnam, and Buddhist)
Goru (Dogon of Mali)
Hogmanay (Scotland)
Inti Raymi (Inca, Peru)
Junkanoo, Jonkonnu, John Canoe (West Africa, Bahamas, Jamaica, 19th-century North Carolina)
Karachun (Ancient Western Slavic)
Koleda, ??????, Sviatki, Dazh Boh (Ancient Eastern Slavic and Sarmatian)
Lenæa, Brumalia (Ancient and Hellenistic Greece, Roman Kingdom)
Lucia, Feast of St. Lucy (Ancient Swedish, Scandinavian Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox)
Makara Sankranti (India and Nepal, Hindu)
Meán Geimhridh, Celtic Midwinter (Celtic, Ancient Welsh, Neodruidic)
Wren day (Celtic, Irish, Welsh, Manx)
Alban Arthan (Neodruidic)
Midvinterblót (Swedish folk religion)
Modranicht, Modresnach (Anglo-Saxon, Germanic)
Perchta ritual (Germania, Alps)
Rozhanitsa Feast (12th century Eastern Slavic Russian)
Shabe Celle, ???? , Yalda- (2nd millenium BC Persian, Iranian)
Sanghamitta Day (Buddhist)
Saturnalia, Chronia (Ancient Greek, Roman Republic)
S,eva Zistanê (Kurdish)
Sol Invictus Festival (3rd century Roman Empire)
Soyal (Zuni and Hopi of North America)
Tek.ufat T.ebet (Jewish)
Wayeb (Maya)
Yule, Jul, Jól, Joul, Joulu, Jõulud, Géol, Geul (Viking Age, Northern Europe)
Yule, Yulefest, Jul, Jól, Joulu (secular, Anglospherean, Northern European and Germanic cultures)
Jul (Germanic Neopaganism)
Yule (Wiccan)
Zagmuk, Sacaea (Ancient Mesopotamia, Sumerian, Babylonian)
Ziemassve-tki (Latvian, Baltic, Romuva)

i wish all of you a happy winter solstice tonight. Go out and try and find Orion's Belt.