Spreading Joy

SEASONS GREETINGS

Celebrating the Holidays with Winter Solstice and Yuletide

BY HAYLEY MATTSON

During this time of year, there are so many holiday traditions that bring family and friends together. Holiday shopping, festive events filled with snow, Santa Claus and reindeer, lights, candles, and cheer; however, one symbolic and richly traditional day will come and go, and most people will miss it.

Winter Solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Cultures around the world have long held feasts and celebrated holidays around the winter solstice. Fire and light are traditional symbols of celebrations held on the darkest day of the year.

Since ancient times, people all over the world have recognized this important astronomical occurrence and celebrated the subsequent “return” of the sun in a variety of different ways. In addition, old solstice traditions have influenced the winter holidays we celebrate now.

There is no better time of the year to feel and show your love than the holiday season. Though many people relate the month of December with Christmas, there’s so much more to be said about the month. From Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to showing selfless acts of love, this season is all about spreading joy and cheer during the coldest time of the year.

This year, Winter Solstice falls on Wednesday, December 21, and in the northern hemisphere, the date marks the 24 hours with the fewest daylight hours of the year.

Winter Solstice is considered a turning point in the year in many cultures. The day is held sacred and celebrates the new solar year’s birth, also known as Yuletide.

Yuletide refers to the time around the Christmas season, traditionally recognized from December 21 until January 1, and dates back centuries. Though Yuletide’s rituals have changed dramatically over the years, some Yuletide traditions remain and have contributed to modern-day celebrations of the festive season.

Decorating an evergreen tree was a common Yuletide custom in ancient times, as was giving gifts to friends and loved ones. The Yule Log is another centuries-old tradition meant to symbolize the passing of an old year into a new one, with the promise of hope and happiness. The oak log is usually decorated with evergreen branches, sprigs of holly, bare birch branches, and trailing ivy vines. A more delicious alternative is the classic French Bûche de Noël, a decadent chocolate cake baked in the shape of a Yule Log and shared with family and friends at a Yuletide gathering.

Children and adults alike around the world find so much joy in the magic this season brings. No matter what you celebrate, may we find peace and love in celebrating together and showing kindness to one another.

May we remember that this season also brings with it the cold and isolation and prompt us to reach out and share our many blessings with others. It is important that we recognize that and remember the dark winter days bring the warmth of spring that heals and rejuvenates our souls and that the holiday season is so much more than gifts found under the tree.

“May you find peace in the promise of the solstice night, that each day forward is blessed with more light. That the cycle of nature, unbroken, and true brings faith to your soul and well-being to you. Rejoice in the darkness, in the silence, find rest, and may the days that follow be abundantly blessed.” — Native American Solstice Blessing

Across

1 Artist showcased by the Malibu

Arts Commission, 2 words 9 Chowder morsels 12 Big Bang Theory character 15 One of the highest peaks in the Santa Monica Mountains, Mountain 16 Park where four natural coastal habitats are linked and accessible 17 Malibu mayor, Paul 19 Malibu Museum 23 Quiz 24 Former Disney CEO selling his 5 acre Malibu estate for $225M 26 Creeping vine 27 “I” problem 30 Malibu beach that draws surfers, divers and scuba enthusiasts, 2 words 33 Porch structure with a roof supported by columns 36 Hollywoodland star, first name 37 Shed stuff 38 Pepperdine theater 40 Slowly, to a conductor 42 Buckeyes’ coll. 45 Malibu cafe where a meeting led to a trek by 13 women to the

North Pole, 3 words 51 The Colonel’s business, initially 52 Assess on Yelp 53 Eliot 54 Billie Eilish’s brother, now selling his Las Tunas Beach home,

Finneas 57 Teacher’s assistant, for short 58 Grey’s Anatomy star who recently bought a 2nd Malibu home, Ellen 60 Mathematical ratio 61 Forerunner to NCIS 62 Diamond or Sedaka 64 Amit Apel’s specialty 65 Pepperdine Waves tennis star, 2 words 69 Two-time Oscar nominee for roles in Moneyball and The

Wolf of Wall Street, now selling his Malibu Colony house, 2 words 72 Watery features to be enjoyed on the Channel Islands, 2 words 74 Lady of Lisbon 75 CEO and cofounder of

MicroStrategy, 2022 recipient of

Atlas Society’s Lifetime

Achievement Award, Michael 77 Documentary film about the expedition in 46 across 80 Chumash, for example 81 Courteney of Friends 83 Gym equipment 84 Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, e.g. 85 Nursing home magnate selling his Carbon Beach architectural home, Lee 86 Naval rank, abbr. 87 Kingly

Down

1 Astronomer Edwin 2 Beach Boys hit “Barbara ” 3 Bale in a barn 4 Character 5 Manet contemporary 6 Segments of a circle 7 Romano or Charles 8 Dance and music MC 10 Surgery tool 11 Pink Panther composer whose trust’s Malibu home is now up for sale, Henry 13 Google co-founder who purchased Pink’s former home in Malibu 14 Olympic Games for 2-6 year olds held at Malibu Bluffs Park, 2 words 18 Many an October baby, astrologically 20 Aquarius, e.g. 21 Japanese game 22 mission, 2 words 25 “Strange Magic” band, abbr. 28 Director of the comedy

“Nunsense”, Alta 29 Jazz player, Bilk 31 Court cry 32 Shelved for now, 2 words 33 San Diego team member 34 Floor coverings 35 Salad garnishes 38 Grinder 39 Website ranking technology, abbr. 41 Squirrel haunts, perhaps 43 Taken in 44 Vulnerable point, 2 words 45 Pepperdine Waves tennis star,

Savannah 46 Clippers on scoreboards 47 Small bill 48 Early modernist, Marc 49 In the opposite direction 50 Uncommon sense, abbr. 53 Color shade 55 JPL systems engineer who gave a presentation at the Malibu

Library about the Mars Rover, 2 words 56 Hollywood’s location 57 Mahal 58 Malibu area where Colter Van

Domelen, a former hedge fund analyst, bought an estate, 2 words 59 West of Hollywood 60 Circle ratio 63 Having fun 66 Mozart symphony 67 Prof.’s degree 68 Coquettes 69 Dubliners author 70 Garden chore 71 Drink (up) 73 Food regimens 75 Needing a lift 76 Auctioneer’s sale 78 Oprah’s network 79 Hightailed it 82 Barker or Kettle CROSSWORD SOLUTION ON PAGE 81