Okay: NOW it's winter; solstice arrives at 12:47 p.m.
It may have looked like winter to you for several days. But officially, if you buy the tradition, winter arrived today - Monday, Dec. 21 - at 12:47 p.m. - with the winter solstice.
The winter solstice is the moment when the "sun stands still" - from the Latin "sol" and "stistere." That is, it's the time when the sun stops its apparent drift southward in the sky, and begins to rise and set a bit farther north each day, headed toward spring and the summer solstice in June.
In fact, the solstice occurs at the moment in the Earth's annual orbit around the sun, when the Northern Hemisphere reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun - 23 degrees, 26 minutes from the perpendicular. At the same moment, the Southern Hemisphere is enjoying its Summer Solstice, its longest day and the start of the southern summer.
In many cultures, the winter solstice was celebrated as mid-winter, not the beginning. And it made sense. Today is the day with the shortest period of daylight. From here, the days get longer, and brighter. We have already passed the date of the earliest sunset (Dec. 7), and on Jan. 4 we will note the latest sunrise. But from this moment, on balance, the days are getting longer. It's all good from here.
So cheer up and shovel.
(AP PHOTO/Chris Young - English Druids celebrate the 2005 winter solstice at Stonehenge)
Comments
Dear Mr Roylance,
I fear I must correct your statement that NOW its winter. More accurately, NOW its officially midwinter. The Winter Solstice (Yule) marks the exact midpoint of seasonal winter on the Celtic or lunar calendar - not the beginning of winter. For a farmer who knows the land and the seasons, this is much more accurate. According to the ancient Celtic tradition, winter begins on Samhain (Nov. 1st)., despite what we may think.
So happy mid-winter. May the sun return to warm you through and through!
Cheerfully,
Dr. Wendy
FR: Thanks. But did you even read the post?
Posted by: Dr. Wendy Williams | December 22, 2009 2:27 AM
Holy cow! Did you see this??
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=41979&src=eorss-nh
Posted by: janetselway | December 22, 2009 7:04 AM
Are they really calling for icy mix xmas morning? If so any idea of the duration? We are suppose to visit the in-laws and they are 35-40 minutes away from us,
FR: Yes. They're not sure yet how long the mix might last east of the mountains. The latest forecast says it should change to all-rain after noon. Watch for flooded roadways as mild air and rain melt the snowpack. "Turn Around; Don't Drown."
Posted by: Patty | December 22, 2009 4:32 PM