Winter Solstice Date: January 2
Winter Solstice is a public holiday in Western Bhutan.
Winter Solstice is a public holiday only in Western Bhutan, celebrating it on January 2 or 3, depending on the year. It similar to a New Year celebration in the country, though it does not have any special religious meaning for the Buddhist country of Bhutan.
History of Winter Solstice in Western Bhutan
A solstice happens twice a year, when the Sun reaches in the sky the southernmost or northernmost extreme point. It comes from the Latin words sol,”sun,” and sistere, “to stand still.” For some cultures such as Bhutan, the event of winter solstice isn’t directly connected with the astronomical event in the skies. It is represented in January as the turning of a New Year. For other cultures the festivities of winter or summer solstices may fall on other dates, representing the passage of seasons. The physical event of the winter solstice falls either on December 21 or 22, depending on the year. In Bhutan, the winter solstice is called nyilog and it literally means “the return of the sun.” It is the day that the amount of daily sunlight increases, signifying the start of longer days. It is considered to be the most auspicious day of the year for Bhutanese. The people have traditionally believed that on nyilog, past mistakes may be erased and karmic value of good deeds is multiplied.
Western Bhutan’s Winter Solstice Traditions, Customs and Activities
On this day, elderly people visit religious landmarks and dzongs, Buddhist temples. Butter lamps are lit all over the country with the belief that the merits of the people that light them will be magnified. Groups of young Bhutanese go door to door singing songs of best wishes for the new year, and in return the house owner will give them food or money. Bhutanese say that on this day, they all get one year older, but one can avoid the passage of time by hiding in the basement of houses.
Other interesting posts:
- The Winter Solstice is Celebrated by Many in the Northern Hemisphere
- Bhutan Celebrates Traditional Day of Offering
- National Day Celebrated in Bhutan
- Blessed Rainy Day Occurs in Bhutan
- Guru Rinpoche’s Birthday Celebrated in Bhutan
Other interesting posts:
