Dark days
Image from wikimedia.
For many people in the U.S., December means that when they leave home in the morning and leave work in the evening, it’s dark. This is tough and depressing for a lot of people, but it will pass as always. In fact, tomorrow is Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. After that, daylight hours will gradually become longer, until eventually the sun will be out to greet you when you wake in the morning.
One common misconception is that “Winter Solstice” refers to an entire day, specifically Dec. 21. However, Winter Solstice actually only lasts for a moment. It is the moment when the earth’s axial tilt is farthest away from the sun. While it actually takes longer to get a no fax payday loan than it does for Winter Solstice, many people celebrate the switch over to more sunshine all day, and why not?
Celebrating Winter Solstice
Some people celebrate Winter Solstice as a non-religious substitute for Christmas. In fact, Christmas Day was designated Dec. 25 because back in the days of the Julian Calendar Winter Solstice fell on Dec. 25, and it was widely celebrated.
A friend of mine says her tradition is “lighting a candle and welcoming back the light.” There are dozens of different traditions for celebrating Winter Solstice all over the world. Most cultures do something to recognize rebirth, including designating holidays and holding festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations. Many polytheistic religions give thanks to a sun god or goddess.
The Winter Solstice minute
Winter Solstice this year is Dec. 21 at 5:47 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time, which means it’s at 12:46 p.m. ET in the United States. On the West Coast it will be 9:47 a.m. Wherever you are on Winter Solstice, remember to welcome back the light and be optimistic because there are brighter days ahead.
