christmas though a christian holiday began as a celebration of the winter solstice.
christmas though a christian holiday began as a celebration of?
the winter solstice
the pre-christian holiday of yule, or "jól", was the most important holiday in scandinavia and northern europe. originally the observance of the winter solstice, and the rebirth of the sun, it brought about many practices that remain in the advent and christmas celebrations today. the yule season was a time for feasting, drinking, gift-giving, and gatherings, but also the season of awareness and fear of the forces of the dark. swedish christmas celebrations begin with the first of advent. saint lucy's day (locally known as "luciadagen") which is the first major christmas celebration before christmas itself. the eldest daughter arising early and wearing her lucy garb of white robe, red sash, and a wire crown covered with whortleberry-twigs with nine lighted candles fastened in it awakens the family, singing "santa lucia", serving them coffee and saffron buns (st. lucia buns), thus ushering in the christmas season.
christmas traditions
soifer's current projects include new publications and new expanded editions through scientific publisher, springer of previously published books, "mathematics as problem solving," "how does one cut a triangle?," "geometric etudes in combinatorial mathematics," and "colorado mathematical olympiad: the first ten years and further explorations." the latter aforementioned title is expected to be expanded to cover twenty years of the colorado mathematical olympiad, which is currently in its 35th year running.





























soifer is the father of four children, mark soifer, julia soifer, isabelle soifer and leon soifer.





























section::::selected books.
alexander soifer