Come to think of it,
maybe the reason for the seasons is sibling rivalry
When the winter solstice arrives on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 10:03 a.m., EST, it will be recognized as the shortest day of the year. To the ancient Celts, however, it was a celebration of hope, for it was the moment when the darkest hours began to brighten.
To the ancients, winter was terrifying. Without adequate food, fuel, and shelter, people and livestock would die. The winter solstice, known also as Yuletide, assured the people that the darkness would end, days would brighten, and life would return.
In Celtic mythology, the year was ruled by twin monarchs—the Holly King, who rules over the dark months of the year, and the Oak King, who rules over the light.
Personifications of winter and summer, the twin kings engage in an endless battle that reflects the seasonal cycles of the year—not only lightness and darkness, but also crop renewal and growth. During the warm days of midsummer, the Oak King was at the height of his strength. At the summer solstice, the Holly King would overcome him, and days would begin to shorten. On the winter solstice, the Holy King succumbs to the Oak King, light begins to return, and the perpetual succession of the seasons continues.
In the eight-minute video Oak King vs Holly King: The Bi-Annual Battle of the Ages Saga, middle-grade teacher Rob Traquair relates the story with music by Jethro Tull.
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