from Zariste’s Concise Guide to World Religions

One of the four festivals of the Goddess, Longnight is held on the winter solstice and is the first day of the year. Unlike the other festivals, Longnight is celebrated more than one day with the Longnight season being two weeks before and two weeks after. This winter festival celebrates new beginnings (particularly birth) and the gifts of hope and love, with the Winter Queen and her mate the Water King as its patrons.

At the beginning of the Longnight season, people decorate their homes and the streets with festive decorations in white (representing the Winter Queen and love), gold (representing the stars and hope), and green (representing life and new beginnings). The main Longnight display in homes, the winter palace is an enchanted ice sculpture fashioned after the Winter Queen’s palace and holds all Longnight gifts. (Poorer homes often have a table covered with a white cloth instead.) Other decorations include snowstrings (snowflake and icicle garlands), white candles, starlights (garlands of gold lights), gold bells, and garlands or wreaths of evergreens.

Typical Longnight festivities include balls featuring rousing Longnight reels, pastry feasts of sweet seasonal delicacies, caroling festive songs, reading Longnight stories, and attending the traditional play about the Goddess converting the Winter Queen.

The traditional fare of Longnight is venison, wild boar, root vegetables, orenges, and Longnight cake. Just like at Harvestfete, spiced cider is a popular drink. However, eggmilk punch spiced with nutmeg and spiritwine is also served.

Longnight gifts are exchanged among family members and intimate friends. Children usually receive the most gifts, but adults receive some as well. Men and women often do not exchange gifts unless they are married, betrothed, or courting.

On Longnight day, gifts are opened early, especially in homes with children. Around midmorning, the first-foot (usually a friend or neighbor) crosses the threshold bearing gifts of salt, coal, spiritwine, and Longnight treats to bring good fortune for the year. Then the Longnight feast is around midday, and many attend Longnight Vespers at the temple in the evening.

The day after Longnight is about charity and giving gifts to the less fortunate. Most don’t need to work, so they remain home with their families. The wealthy also donate significant money to charities, although acts of service are more prevalent among the less affluent.