Nature on our doorsteps: Mid-winter and the Celtic New Year

Rosaleen Dwyer is the County Heritage Officer at South Dublin County Council – every week she gives us an insight into nature on our doorsteps and the beautiful biodiversity of its plants and wildlife.

In the old Celtic tradition, the New Year begins at the darkest point of the year. That day marks the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

In 2023 that will occur on Friday, December 22 when there are more hours of darkness than hours of daylight.

When compared with the longest day of the year in mid-summer, the day of the winter solstice has 9 hours and 30 minutes more hours of darkness. Since mid-summer, the days have very gradually been getting shorter, and this process has had a slow but a steady effect on living things in nature.

Light is an incredibly important element in the lives of animals, birds, plants, and insects.

Plants, in particular, sense daylight using a chemical process that controls all aspects of the plant’s growth and development.

Since mid-summer, the shortening days have prompted plants to prepare for winter.

Robin’s song is more confident as the days grow longer after the winter solstice

They fruit and set seed, and trees prepare to conserve their energy by dropping their leaves. Animals also prepare for the shorter days of winter by putting on weight and by growing thicker fur.

From mid-winter, daylight hours begin to lengthen once again.

Although this happens very, very slowly and is hardly noticeable to us from day to day, the change is not missed by other living things, especially by birds like the Robin.

Robins are very territorial birds. Unlike most other birds, they will sing throughout autumn and winter as they begin to establish territories.

While their autumn song sounds gentle and even lonesome, this becomes much more confident when the Robin feels the days lengthening.

They feel the approach of spring and they loudly proclaim their territories to other robins.

Our ancient ancestors observed nature closely. They knew that the darkest day was the turn of the winter season.

A New Year was starting, spring was on the way, and it was a time for celebration.