Today is the winter solstice.

The winter solstice was known in Gaelic as grian-stad a’ gheamhraidh.

From now on the days grow longer, the sun filling more of our days as the darkness recedes. It's a moment of huge importance for cultures across the world, to which superstitions and folktales are naturally attached.

Ancient Scots would bring evergreen trees into their homes in the belief that the summer took refuge within them and it would bring them warmth over the winter months, and protect it so that it might return after the solstice.
Druids would cut strands of mistletoe to be given as gifts, and it was with them the tradition of burning Yule logs to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck began, a practice that still continues in northern Scotland.

The image is of Maeshowe, a 4800-year-old Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave on Orkney. It is precisely aligned so that on the winter solstice the sunlight shines through its entrance and lights the back of the chamber.

The light strikes at sunset, you can watch it today from around 2.40pm to witness a winter wonder of a civilisation thousands of years old: https://www.orkney.com/news/maeshowe-...