Hi to FwF,
Yes winter solstice, this is the time of the Wild Hunt, starting originally from Dec 13th onwards, later under influence of the celebration of the Roman Solis Invicibilis we transgressed to Dec 25th, that is why we also celebrate Christmas at this time of the year. The leader of the pack of Lost Souls was Holda, Frau Holle or Vrouw Holle in Dutch, the wife of Wodan, also known by her name Hell, her icon bird being the Magpie (half living half dead - black and white), and while the wind howled round the chimney people feared these Riders in the Sky of Germanic lore, and their offerings to them are now represented as parcels in the Christmas stockings at the chimney place, a tribute to your ancestors that started from these coasts,
D