Source: NorthJersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/community/79379722.html
The holiday lights that illuminate December nights in the northern hemisphere are a wonderful distraction from the fact that daylight is becoming more limited as it leads up to the day with the least amount of sunlight, the Winter Solstice.
These long, dark nights did not go unnoticed by ancient people, who found their own ways to deal with them. Those methods remain alive as traditions associated with Christmas and also with people who continue to recognize and celebrate Winter Solstice.
"For me, Winter Solstice or Yule is celebrated in the traditional Pagan way," said Trish Reynolds, author and high priestess. "We mark the moment of Solstice with a candle – this year at 12:47 p.m. on Monday Dec. 21, then settle in to keep vigil all night by throwing a party with family and friends. We decorate with evergreens, feast with traditional pagan foods like turkey and ham and goose when you can get it!
"We exchange gifts, tell jokes and stories and sing songs waiting for the sun to rise. The vigil aspect is important for me, because Solstice Night is the longest night of the year, and our ancestors were never really sure that the sun would come back, especially in the far northern regions. It made sense to stay awake and keep the Yule Fire burning to encourage an infant Sun to rise again in the morning. The iconology of a divine child of light is quite apt at this time, especially since both Mithra, a popular Romano-Persian Sun God, Saturn, Hercules and Jesus are all given honor at this special time as bring divine children-light bringers."