« Iraq Outrage of the Day: Americans in Secret Custody | Main | Must See TV »
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Happy Winter Solstice
Solstice literally means standing-still-sun. At Winter Solstice the hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun because of the earth's tilt, and therefore daylight is the shortest and the sun has its lowest arc across the sky. Winter Solstice occurs today in the Northern Hemisphere of Planet Earth at exactly 5:22 PM Mountain Time.
Many ancient cultures knew about the solstices (and equinoxes) and lined up structures in relation to the sun, like those at Stonehenge in England and Chaco Canyon in NM, so that these times could be accurately observed and celebrated. Many of the traditions that we associate with Christmas and other religious holidays around this time actually are variations on so-called pagan rites that were dedicated to light, warmth, community and the forces of life during nature's time of cold, dark and fear.
Think candles and evergreens and lights and bonfires and feasting and Yule logs and starlight and raising voices in unison to fill the long, long nights with song and spirit. All are a celebration of the fact that more and more light will be returning with each passing day beyond the Winter Solstice.
Click to send a Solstice e-card. We''ll be lighting a candle for peace and and patience, enlightenment and love tonight. We need as much warmth and light as we can get these days. Love the ones you're with.
December 21, 2006 at 12:11 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink
Comments
Happy Solstice to all!
Isnt the universe grand!
peace
mary ellen
Posted by: Mary Ellen | Dec 21, 2006 2:45:06 PM
Some cultures used to start their seasons halfway between the Solstices and the Equinoxes, instead of on them as we do. Then Dec. 21 was mid-winter in the Northern hemisphere, instead of the first day of Winter. It's too bad Christianity doesn't recognize the Solar year, and has persecuted the people who do. Even though they co-opted these festivals for their own celebrations.
Posted by: Michelle Meaders | Dec 22, 2006 10:44:17 AM
When we went to Clava Cairns in Scotland, appropriately but accidentally on the Summer Solstice, we read that the openings to the cairns were lined up with the setting midsummer sun. So there were lots of ancients who knew the importance of the sun.
We spent this winter solstice driving through fog in East Anglia, and never even saw the sun. Now I realize why people celebrated the lengthening of days! In NM you hardly notice the difference, but here there is a big difference between the long, long days of summer and our barely 8-hour winter days.
Posted by: KathyF | Dec 22, 2006 11:17:11 PM
Dashing through the fog still sounds like fun, even if there's no snow in Scotland. You've been so lucky to see so many fascinating sites in the British Isles and other places in Europe.
When I lived in Boston the shorter winter days were definitely more noticeable than here in sunny NM so I can imagine how eternally dark it can seem there in Britain.
Posted by: | Dec 23, 2006 12:16:16 PM
