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Winter Solstice
This was written by my friend, Virginia Link
Winter Solstice is an astronomical event, which means the actual date and time of the Solstice varies because it depends on the date and time that your hemisphere (northern or southern) of the Earth is farthest from the sun in Earth’s annual orbit.
This year, in the Central Time Zone, Winter Solstice occurs Saturday, December 22, at 12:08 a.m. The Winter Solstice marks, in the northern hemisphere, the longest night, and therefore, logically, the shortest day.
Being born and reared in Wisconsin, I struggled with my mixed feelings about Winter for many years, before I realized that no, it did NOT go on forever, and that already, by December 21 or 22nd, the days started getting longer.
That is, we had more light available to us each day after the Solstice. That realization has made all the difference in the world to me and how I look at winter in this climate.
My friends and I usually celebrate Winter Solstice by gathering together, wearing dark clothes, and beginning our celebration in dimmed light. As the celebration goes on, we light more candles and greet the returning of the Sun. We talk about the rest we get over the winter months, and our hopes for spring, and what we will do to keep our spirits and bodies well throughout this challenging period of the year.
Of course, there is LOTS of good food, and good drink (nonalcoholic), and some small gift exchange. Primarily, we express our thanks for each others’ presence in our lives.
Winter Solstice is an astronomical event, which means the actual date and time of the Solstice varies because it depends on the date and time that your hemisphere (northern or southern) of the Earth is farthest from the sun in Earth’s annual orbit.
This year, in the Central Time Zone, Winter Solstice occurs Saturday, December 22, at 12:08 a.m. The Winter Solstice marks, in the northern hemisphere, the longest night, and therefore, logically, the shortest day.
Being born and reared in Wisconsin, I struggled with my mixed feelings about Winter for many years, before I realized that no, it did NOT go on forever, and that already, by December 21 or 22nd, the days started getting longer.
That is, we had more light available to us each day after the Solstice. That realization has made all the difference in the world to me and how I look at winter in this climate.
My friends and I usually celebrate Winter Solstice by gathering together, wearing dark clothes, and beginning our celebration in dimmed light. As the celebration goes on, we light more candles and greet the returning of the Sun. We talk about the rest we get over the winter months, and our hopes for spring, and what we will do to keep our spirits and bodies well throughout this challenging period of the year.
Of course, there is LOTS of good food, and good drink (nonalcoholic), and some small gift exchange. Primarily, we express our thanks for each others’ presence in our lives.
posted by Greenconsciousness
at 1:29 PM - Link
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