our Star always changes position year round according to our point of view. rises further in the S or N throughout the year bc of our orbit around the Star. it also rises & sets in the same position around the 25th of Dec (3days) and is root of some beliefs still practiced to date. ;)
BUT, IS THIS TRUE?
short answer… mostly true, with some mythologized embroidery
long answer below, with the gears showing.
the astronomy part (solidly true)
From our point of view on earth, the sun does change its rising and setting position over the year.
That happens because:
earth’s axis is tilted about 23.5°
as earth orbits the sun, that tilt points us toward or away from the sun at different times of year
Result:
in summer, the sun rises farther north on the horizon and reaches a higher noon altitude
in winter, it rises farther south and stays lower in the sky
only on the equinoxes does it rise due east and set due west
So this part of the statement is true:
“rises further in the S or N throughout the year bc of our orbit”
That’s basic celestial mechanics… no mysticism required.
the “same position for 3 days” part (half true, half poetic)
Around december 21–22, we hit the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere.
What actually happens:
the sun’s southward motion along the horizon slows to nearly zero
for a few days, the sunrise and sunset points appear almost unchanged
then the sun reverses direction and starts drifting north again
This apparent pause is real.
The latin solstitium literally means “sun stands still.”
However:
it is not exactly december 25
the “three days” is an approximation, not a precise astronomical count
different latitudes observe slightly different effects
So this part is directionally true, but calendar-fuzzy.
the belief / symbolism part (true, but cultural not astronomical)
The idea that this solar “pause and return” influenced religious or mythic symbolism is absolutely true.
Many cultures noticed:
the sun reaches its lowest power
days stop getting shorter
light begins its return
That moment naturally became associated with:
rebirth
renewal
victory of light over darkness
Later traditions layered theology, metaphor, and ritual on top of that observable sky event. The astronomy came first… the stories followed.
final verdict
astronomically: mostly true
chronologically (dec 25, 3 days): loosely true, not precise
symbolically: true, but culturally constructed
In other words…
nature sets the rhythm, humans write the lyrics