This morning at around 4:22 am PST marks the Winter Solstice. The solstice is not just the official beginning of winter, it is also, quite literally the darkest day of the year. The reason for the short day is because the rotation of the earth causes the sun to be in its southernmost position. The earth will continue to rotate around the sun, putting the sun in a more northward position, but it will take time. This “time,” to us, means winter.
The word, solstice, according to the good ol’ Farmer’s Almanac comes from the Latin words, “sun” and “to stand still.” Even though each day, the “point on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets” advances, the change around the solstice is so slight, that the sun appears to stand still–hence the word. Don’t you feel a little more informed, now? Also, just because it is the darkest day of the year, it doesn’t mean it’s the worst of the weather to come. The earth climate takes a second to feel the repercussions of the earth’s path. So, it isn’t usually until January or February that the limited energy coming in toward the earth finally wreaks havoc on the temperatures.
I look at the darkest day of the year as a good thing–it means that we are over the hump and on our way, however slowly, to longer days {and eventually better weather}. Each day after the solstice brings me one day closer to getting back outside and working in the garden. At least, that’s how I’ve decided to look at this year. Instead of impending doom, I am going to consider this brief transition around the sun a move toward brighter days. Glass half full, people.
For today, though, slide into your jammies when the sun goes down {it’s gonna be early}, and ride out the longest night of the year with your favorite movie and favorite people.
Happy Winter Solstice,
Mavis
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