The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities
were not certain of living through the winter, and had to be prepared
during the previous nine months. Starvation was common in winter between
January and April, also known as the famine months. In temperate climates,
the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration, before deep winter
began. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during
the winter, so it was almost the only time of year when a supply of fresh
meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was
finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time. The concentration of
the observances were not always on the day commencing at midnight or at
dawn, but the beginning of the pre-Romanized day, which falls on the
previous eve.

Since the event is seen as the reversal of the Sun's ebbing presence in the
sky, concepts of the birth or rebirth of sun gods have been common and, in
cultures using winter solstitially based cyclic calendars, the year as
reborn has been celebrated with regard to life-death-rebirth deities or new
beginnings such as Hogmanay's redding, a New Years cleaning tradition. Also
reversal is another usual theme as in Saturnalia's slave and master
reversals.

Many outside traditions are often adopted by neighboring or invading
cultures. Some historians will often assert that many traditions are
directly derived from previous ones rooting all the way back to those begun
in the cradle of civilization or beyond, much in a way that correlates to
speculations on the origins of languages.

Even in modern cultures these gatherings are still valued for emotional
comfort, having something to look forward to at the darkest time of the
year. This is especially the case for populations in the near polar regions
of the hemisphere. The depressive psychological effects of winter on
individuals and societies are for the most part tied to coldness,
tiredness, malaise, and inactivity.


Also, insufficient sunlight in the short winter days increases the
secretion of melatonin in the body, throwing off the circadian rhythm with
longer sleep. Exercise, light therapy, increased negative ion exposure
(which can be attained from plants and well ventilated flames, burning wood
or beeswax) can reinvigorate the body from its seasonal lull and relieve
winter blues by decreasing melatonin secretions, increasing serotonin and
temporarily creating a more even sleeping pattern[citations needed].


Midwinter festivals and celebrations occurring on the longest night of the
year, often calling for evergreens, bright illumination, large ongoing
fires, feasting, communion with close ones, and evening physical exertion
by dancing and singing are examples of cultural winter therapies that have
evolved as traditions since the beginnings of civilization. Such traditions
can stir the wit, stave off malaise, reset the internal clock and rekindle
the human spirit. 

The New Years Eve celebration of Scotland is called Hogmanay. The name
derives from the old Scots name for Yule gifts of the Middle Ages. The
early Hogmanay celebrations were originally brought to Scotland by the
invading and occupying Norse who celebrated a solstitial new year (England
celebrated the new year on March 25). In 1600, with the Scottish
application of the January 1 New year and the church's persistent
suppression of the solstice celebrations, the holiday traditions moved to
December 31. The festival is still referred to as the Yules by the Scots of
the Shetland Islands who start the festival on December 18th and hold the
last tradition (a Troll chasing ritual) on January 18th. The most
widespread Scottish custom is the practice of first-footing which starts
immediately after midnight on New Years. This involves being the first
person (usually tall and dark haired) to cross the threshold of a friend or
neighbor and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less
common today), coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a fruit pudding)
intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and
drink (as the gifts, and often Flies cemetery) are then given to the
guests.