Winter Solstice, The

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Summary: Celebrating the Winter Solstic throughout History
Review: "The Winter Solstice" starts with the Scottish rituals that were meant to ensure a good harvest the following year and ends with an adaptation of a Cherokee tale of creation as a Solstice story. In between students will learn about how the ancient Romans changed places during a week of celebrating the solstice, Scandinavians celebrated the return of the sun with the feast of Yuletide, as well as Peruvian and Hopi Indian sun rituals. The book draws some connections between the holiday practices of Christmas and Hanukkah with the winter solstice rituals of long ago. There is even an explanation for why the days grow shorter in winter that can be turned in a very simple science experiment for students. This book by Ellen Jackson, with illustrations by Jan Davey Ellis, obviously does not touch on all of the things people around the world have done to celebrate "The Winter Solstice," it does provide enough information for young elementary school children to handle.

Rating:
Summary: Celebrating the Winter Solstic throughout History
Review: "The Winter Solstice" starts with the Scottish rituals that were meant to ensure a good harvest the following year and ends with an adaptation of a Cherokee tale of creation as a Solstice story. In between students will learn about how the ancient Romans changed places during a week of celebrating the solstice, Scandinavians celebrated the return of the sun with the feast of Yuletide, as well as Peruvian and Hopi Indian sun rituals. The book draws some connections between the holiday practices of Christmas and Hanukkah with the winter solstice rituals of long ago. There is even an explanation for why the days grow shorter in winter that can be turned in a very simple science experiment for students. This book by Ellen Jackson, with illustrations by Jan Davey Ellis, obviously does not touch on all of the things people around the world have done to celebrate "The Winter Solstice," it does provide enough information for young elementary school children to handle.

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Summary: Balanced account
Review: Clear, concise, and beautifully written! It's possible to be a wiccan AND believe that the earth goes around the sun.

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Summary: Excellent resource for Neo-Pagan parents
Review: Finally! A book which touches upon our winter holiday! Perfect for reading to your younger child (or as a starting place for religious discussions with slightly older children). The celebration of the winter solstice is covered from a variety of cultural viewpoints, with lovely illustrations and accurate information (the scientific explanation is also given). A beautiful story about the Solstice is provided at the end of the book, which can be used as a separate tale for family gatherings.The only caveat is that, although the author mentions that some people still mark the Solstice, that is the extent of the detail given to modern Earth-centered faiths. All in all, a book which will enrich your child's religious education.

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Summary: Wondreful Book!
Review: I couldn't recomend it highly enough. Great history of how ancient cultures would celebrate the Winter Solstice and why. Not just for Pagans, any family would enjoy the Waldorfian style art and child friendly tales.

Great Native American myth tale at the end. Wonderful buy with the Autumn Equinox book by the same people. I wish they'd come out with a Spring Equinox and Summer Solstic book!!!

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Summary: Intense for kids
Review: I got this and "The Shortest Day" by Wendy Pfeffer to try to provide a non-denominational explanation of Christmas to my toddler. I think "The Winter Solstice" is a little too dark and scary for young kids. It emphasizes the fears ancient peoples felt at this time of year as the reason for the mid-winter holiday. Talks a lot about driving away evil spirits and even human sacrifice. I'm sure it's very historically accurate, but "The Shortest Day" glosses over some of the darkest information and provides very similar history but in a lighter way.

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Summary: Not a wiccan friendly book
Review: I had seen this book many times on-line yet hesitated to purchase it. After checking it out at the local library, I now understand my hesitation. I am a practicing Wiccan and thought this may be a good way to explain our family Yule celebrations to my son's kindergarten class. I was wrong. This book is inaccurate, disjointed and incomplete . It has a distinct "monotheistic writer attempting to appear enlightned" air about it. I am grateful that I didn't waste my money on it, although the waste of my time is inexcusable. Definately not a Pagan/Wiccan nature-based religion friendly read.

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Summary: My Favorite Book
Review: I wish Amy's review had been posted before I purchased this; pagans should definitely take the time to read it carefully before buying this book as a gift. If sentences like "many people...thought that ghosts and witches and trolls wandered the Earth" and "just as we now do at Christmas" _don't_ set your teeth on edge, then hey, go for it. There is no discussion of modern multicultural solstice traditions outside of Christmas and Hanukkah and an emphasis on the 'dark and scary' aspects of old solstice beliefs that might be inappropriate for a child's introduction to the solstice. There's also an implicit attitude -- mild but noticeable, though unstated -- that we moderns are superior to those poor superstitious folk of the past. And the scientific explanation, while accurate, is misleadingly phrased. Still, the artwork and general design are excellent, the text is clear and simple without being dry, and the Cherokee tale at the end, explaining why some trees are evergreen, is very nice. I wouldn't recommend it as a first-and-only solstice book or for anyone who's unlikely to have more balanced sources of information readily available. But it could be worthwhile as one of a group of books or as a starting point for discussion.

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Summary: The Shortest Day and the Return of the Light
Review: This lovely picture book is a great over-view of Winter Solstice history, tradition, science and celebration. The illustrations are satisfyingly detailed and brightly colored, many of them double page spreads. The book covers an ancient Scottish family's Winter Solstice experience, shows us an ancient viewpoint featuring Stonehenge, explores anicent Roman, Scandinavian, Celtic, Peruvian, and Native American celebrations. It shares some of the features of modern day Winter Solstice celebrations. It ties in the celebrations of Christmas and Hanukkah and traces where some of those holiday traditions originated. It includes a brief and easily understood scientific explanation for the Winter Solstice. The book is nicely rounded off with a solstice story from a Cherokee tale of creation. The illustrations feature yew and mistletoe, blazing bonfires, antlered ancients encouraging the return of the Sun, changing seasons, and children celebrating. It is a lively and entertaining book that will enrich anyone's understanding of this special night of the year and will be especially useful to Wiccan and other pagan parents.

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Summary: Great for Modern Pagans--Read Critically!
Review: Though the book is written from a Judeo-Christian perspective, it is an excellent book for educating children about the many ways the winter solstice is celebrated throughout the world. Some Pagans have criticized the book for not representing modern Paganism; however, I feel it is unreasonable of Pagans to presume that Judeo-Christians even know of our faith, let alone to expect them to write about it as if it were the truth. I take it for what it is, a very well-written children's book that is exploring the multicultural aspect of the winter solstice festival. When I read it to my son and it said something like "ancient people once believed in ghosts, witches, and trolls . . . " I paused to explain to him that there are real ghosts (spirits) and real witches (people who perform witchcraft) and that I'd never seen a troll, but I wouldn't say they don't exist either! I'm teaching my child to be a critical reader. I personally feel that some of those who reviewed the book negatively don't know how to read critically! I hope any of you with children will consider picking up this book for them! It has very beautiful illustrations and a lovely Native American story at the end about why the evergreens stay green through winter! Definitely worth the purchase price!