Winter Solstice a time of beauty at Mound
December 21, Winter Solstice, for many is just the beginning of winter on the “shortest day of the year.” but for park managers Keith Bengtson it is one of his longest days. Bengtson is up before sunrise opening the gates to the Ohio Historical Society’s Serpent Mound to allow those wanting to see the winter solstice sunrise alignment that is incorporated into the Native American earthen structure. Serpent Mound, in Adams County, is an earthen mound in the shape of an uncoiling snake that extends to over 1,300 feet overlooking the Ohio Brush Creek valley.

In years past the Friends of Serpent Mound (FOSM) group has celebrated the Winter Solstice in honor of the different alignments. Alignments at Serpent Mound include solar, lunar, planetary, celestial alignments and local frost times. Serpent Mound has other alignments too, the summer solstice, the moon rise maximums and minimums, and new data by archaeolo-astronomer, Terry Cameron, says that one coil actually marks the last day of frost for the area.
Since 2004, FOSM has taken luminary candles and outlined the effigy mound for a few hours on the night of the winter solstice. “It’s sort of our grand finale each year for the ancients that built the mound,” says FOSM Director Delsey Wilson. Wilson’s husband Jeff was the initial creator of the event and has since carried on the tradition of donating the candles to light the serpent each year. The volunteers call it the “Lighting of the Serpent.”
   Last year more than 80 volunteers helped layout the more than 800 candles needed to outline Serpent Mound. Prior to the event, brown paper bags are filled with cat litter and a single candle is inserted in each bag in anticipation of this annual winter event. This allows for a quickly placing the bags and then opening them. A half hour before dusk everyone gathers around in a circle for well wishes and prayer, then everyone lights their candle from a single flame and from that single lighting more than 800 candles are then lit around the mound.
   “It’s a very peaceful event. Many people are sending out prayers while they light their candles,” says Wilson. “During ancient times the Solstice was a time to celebrate. Being the final long night of winter, the ancient peoples could soon look forward to the sun staying out longer and bringing with it the warmth of spring and summer.”
   The lighting of the serpent is a unique event, and candle lit outline of the Great Serpent Mound is a sight unlike any other in southern Ohio.
   “Serpent Mound is a sacred site and we respect that and this is our way of honoring that,’ says Wilson. “Plus we hope others will join us in both the activity and respecting of the site.” 

If You Go... 

 If you would like to more about Serpent Mound, you can go to  “www.ohiohistory.org” www.ohiohistory.org. If you would like to learn more about this event or make arrangements for accommodations,visit   “www.adamscountytravel.org” www.adamscountytravel.org or call 877-232-6764.