Ancient Chinese, Hebrews, and Egyptians viewed evergreens as symbols of eternal life. European pagans "decked the halls" with evergreen branches to bring in life during the dark days of winter.

Whether it’s torchlit processions, folk dances or modernised pagan rituals, these events take you far off the beaten path into Europe’s cultural heart. Bonfires and blessings: Medieval ...

(Fittingly, storks return to Europe from Africa about 9 months after the summer solstice.) After the founding of the Polish state and the simultaneous introduction of Christianity to its territory in ...