It is a celebration that begins at 10:00 at night on December 21st and extends until 12:00 at night on the 22nd, according to tradition, at this time the Winter Solstice begins to occur (In the northern hemisphere) and with it descends the Spirit of Christmas.
The Spirit of Christmas is conceived as an energy that comes from the center of the star system and that each year brings with it peace, love, harmony, joy, and prosperity for human beings. Legend has it, according to the angel Uriel, that the spirit came to the planet from a distant galaxy and settled in the North region, currently the Scandinavian peninsula.
history of tradition
Originally, the spirit of Christmas is a tradition belonging to the Nordic countries and that, for several years, has been adopted in Hispanic countries as part of the customs of the Christmas season.
A Norse legend tells that more than 80,000 years ago, a being from a distant galaxy landed on Earth and settled in a northern region, in the area now known as the Scandinavian Peninsula. He was a wandering and cheerful traveler who preached his knowledge, distributed gifts and blessings during his journey.
Tradition in other cultures
Roman empire
Ancient Rome had one of its most important holidays of the year during the winter solstice, and it could be considered as the origin of Christmas as we see it today. It was a festivity in honor of the god Saturn, defender of agriculture, known as the ‘Saturnalia’.
Nordic countries
In certain parts of Finland, Norway and Sweden, the solstice is celebrated with the worship of the goddess Beiwe, who according to Nordic tradition is in charge of protecting happiness, health and the Sun. Tradition has it that Beiwe and her daughter walk through the sky on reindeer bones, causing plants to grow on Earth.
Japan
Amaterasu, goddess of the sun, is the protagonist of the Shinto myth, and tells how Susanowo, brother of the goddess, killed the colt of the sky and threw the skin into his sister’s room. Susanowo was banished, causing Amaterasu to lock herself in a cave and the sun to disappear from the planet. Seeing this chaos, the gods tried to get her out of it by all means, and they only succeeded through her humor.
She, out of curiosity, looked out and saw herself in a mirror, being fascinated by her own image. Recovered from her grief, she left the cave and balance was restored to the world. Since then, many Japanese people take advantage of the arrival of winter to purify their homes and make offerings in honor of this victory of light over darkness.
Rituals performed on this day
Deep cleaning
In the first place, to receive the Spirit of Christmas, the house must be cleaned very well. Cleaning the home is a reflection of the person’s mental health. The spaces where you live must be in order and neat.
They recommend opening the windows for the energies to circulate. Also «tangerine oil can be sprayed on window frames and door handles,» says the portal. People can shower with tangerine essences and bath salts, and put tangerine oil on their skin to attract prosperity.
sea salt for good luck
Some believers consider it necessary to place sea salt in every corner of the home to take away bad energies. The morning of the next day, they should sweep all the salt out of the house so that every corner of the house is clean.
candle lighting
In other homes they use to light some candles of different colors and make wishes for the coming year. Taking advantage of the holiday season, the colors of the candles are usually Christmas like red, green, gold and silver.
the 21 wishes
The Spirit of Christmas, as its name indicates, has a spiritual overtone rather than a material one. That is why the most important thing that is requested in the letter of wishes revolves around those little intangible things that lead to full happiness. The wishes are written starting with the general requests until reaching the individual. For example, it begins by asking for humanity, then for the country, followed by family groups and friends, and finally, personal requests.
Peace, less poverty, having values, eradicating bad habits or vices, maintaining health, improving or maintaining personal and work relationships, are the types of desires that are added to the list. The occasion is propitious to imagine the Earth charged with light, happiness, peace, love, harmony and with less selfishness, anxiety and sadness. It is a time to reflect, to be filled with individual and collective purposes and goals that can make a difference.
They are cut into strips and kept until the next year’s visit so that only those that are fulfilled can be burned.
Full Ritual of December 21
You will need to:
- 1 blue candle, 1 yellow candle, 1 red candle.
- 1 sandalwood or tangerine incense cone or stick.
- Tangerines.
- Matches or phosphorus.
- Sheets.
- Pencil or pen.
- Scissors.
Prayer to the Spirit of Christmas
At the moment of beginning the ritual, it is necessary to pronounce a prayer that marks the welcome to this wonderful and kind being of light to our home. For this it is important to open windows and doors, light candles and incense.
“In your name, Beloved Almighty Presence, I welcome the Holy Spirit of Christmas, who comes down to this planet with the mission of giving. I greet you, I recognize you and I bless you; I thank you for the wonderful work of love, joy and peace that you do.
I open the doors of my heart and my home to your radiation, and I recognize you as a privileged guest at the celebration. I demand, accept, receive, and make abundant provision for myself, my family, my friends, and all mankind.»
You can pronounce this text or write it on the sheets of paper before starting with the wishes, which must go in this order:
Around the world.
For your country.
For friends and family.
By you.
You must collect 21 requests in total, or as many as you want as long as it is an odd number. After writing them, you can burn your sheets or save them throughout the year and burn little by little as your wishes come true.
After this ritual, you can celebrate a sharing with your family or friends, to honor this special guest with a dinner, full of joy and gratitude.