Merry Solstice, Everyone!

[earthside]

The original 'reason for the season'.

The winter solstice in the northern hemisphere occurs today at 12:11 P.M. EST

[idwiyo]

1. k&r

[loudsue]

2. Celebrated for thousands of years. Now THIS is a tradition I can get behind.

Let's hear it for Mother Nature!

[JaneyVee]

3. Might just do some low level incantations and transform into a majestic falcon.

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. Hey, back at you! n/t

[BlancheSplanchnik]

5. <3

Now the light begins coming back. The seasons turn.

Ring out, you Solstice bells! (that's a Jethro Tull lyric)

[Rozlee]

6. Does this mean days will start getting longer now?

Gads, I hope so.

[roody]

9. The days grow longer and

the cold grows stronger.

[Rozlee]

14. *

[rug]

7. Solstice Song

[PumpkinAle]

21. Beautiful

thanks for posting.

Happy Solstice everyone!

[niyad]

24. that was lovely--thank you for sharing.

[classof56]

8. Merry Solstice!

I always look forward to this day 'cause from now on the days get longer. Oh, and it's my spouse's birthday. Lots to celebrate!

[LWolf]

12. Yes.

Our winter break begins, a couple of weeks of getting to be at home during daylight on most days, and then, when we go back, while still dark, we can begin to see the light returning each day.

[classof56]

34. Just saw the sign at RHS advising no school from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2

Enjoy the respite!! And let's hope the snow takes those two weeks off, as well.

[LWolf]

41. It sure was warm today.

I'd love a break with no frozen or broken pipes. PM me if you'd like to get together; a whole two weeks, I might as well take advantage.

[classof56]

60. I agree--would be nice to touch bases.

I'll be gone this week, so maybe one day next week if that works for you? How about a coffee shop? Let me know and we'll figure out a time and place. Meanwhile, enjoy your vacation and we'll hope the warm weather sticks around.

Happy holidays.

[lastlib]

16. I had a friend who got married on Dec. 21st.....

because it was the longest night of the year.

(i guess we know what he was thinking.......... )

[classof56]

35. Thanks for the smile!

And Happy Anniversary to your friend.

[Entheory]

40. Me too

5 years today. Yeah we are still youngins...Happy shortest day!!!

[tabasco]

10. Fuck yeah!

Come back Mr. Sun!

[Vox Moi]

11. Happy Winter Solstice!

Last edited Sat Dec 21, 2013, 02:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Winter and Summer solstices … both magical days on my calendar.
It's a good time to pause and reflect on the gentle cosmic cycles that do so much to make life on Earth what it is today.

[LWolf]

13. YES!

[heaven05]

15. it's all uphill from here

in Michigan, that is. Happy......to you!

[Island Deac]

17. The Birth of the Sun.

Wait a minute. I think someone stole that idea for their own profit.

[msongs]

18. sunrise is the ORIGINAL resurrection, followed by the return of spring nt

[MineralMan]

19. It's my wife's and my wedding anniversary.

We planned the wedding for the Winter Solstice and got married 22 years ago, today.

It's an easy date to remember, and her birthday is the same day, but in another month. For old farts like me, making things easy to remember is always a plus.

[niyad]

20. happy solstice, birthday and anniversary-- a very practical approach, indeed.

[niyad]

22. merry solstice, happy yule to you as well.

[liberal_at_heart]

23. Living in the Pacific Northwest I am coming to appreciate the Solstice more and more each year.

A celebration of brighter days. Happy Winter Solstice everybody especially those who have the dark come down on you at 4:30 pm. Going to get a Solstice/Christmas tree today. My family has always regarded the tree as a Christmas tree, but again living in the Pacific Northwest I am gaining a new found respect for the people who originally brought tress indoors in order to light up the dark.

[tclambert]

25. And why is there a war on Solstice?

Darn that mainstream media. Darn them to heck! Darn them to an eternity of discomfort in a lukewarm pool smelling faintly of dirty socks.

[DeSwiss]

26. Merry Solstice!

[Feral Child]

27. And to you!

Nice Greenman graphic.

[elleng]

28. Yup!

[Egalitarian Thug]

29. And to you and yours as well.

[BlueToTheBone]

30. May this turn of the Wheel bring bright blessings

to us all.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

31. The 6-month tyranny of the Southern Hemisphere just ended.

Thank god...I'm ready for longer days.

[gulliver]

32. Back at you. nt

[Hatchling]

33. And a joyous day to you!

The light returns and hope arises!

[hootinholler]

36. Indeed!

May Mother Earth hold you to her breast

May Father Sky ever protect you

Merry Solstice My Friends!

[rhett o rick]

37. And the solstice is definitely white. Well in Canada anyway, eh? nm

[Zorra]

38. Merry Solstice! Raven ~ A Solstice Story:

Last night my partner and I had a Solstice feast with lots of good food and drink, and spent the morning snuggling next to the Solstice tree, watching as a storm passed on, and smiling as today became sunny and warm.

[Hissyspit]

39. OH MY GOD

WHERE DID THE SUN GO?!

WE HAVE BEEN FORSAKEN

[Scootaloo]

53. Which one?

You have a wide selection. If you feel you have chosen wrongly, don't worry, you can always come back to the menu and select again

[Hissyspit]

58. The one who rides the chariot across the sky providing warmth and light.

Chariot must be in the shop.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

42. Let's put the Saturn back in Saturnalia

[paleotn]

43. best solstice wishes to all

...Nollaig in the old country. Longer days! Yea!

[Blue_In_AK]

44. I love solstice, the happiest day of the year.

Tomorrow we start gaining seconds.

[Aldo Leopold]

45. Yes, and let's not forget Odin,

the original Yule father!

[RoccoR5955]

46. I have always been a fan of Paul Winter's Solstice Concert

In NYC. It has been an annual event for over 30 years, and it is always awesome.

You can download some of the music here: http://music.paulwinter.com/

You can listen to two hours of the concert at:http://www.npr.org/2013/12/20/255745849/a-paul-winter-solstice-concert-2013

Happy Solstice, Merry Yule, Happy Festivus, Joyous Saturnalia!


Oh, and I guess you can call me "Reverend" now. I was ordained today as a minister of The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

R'Amen!

[openfield]

47. Winter Solstice 2013: Shortest day of the year, but sunset already creeping later

Winter may just be getting started, but those looking forward to a bit more daylight have not much longer to wait. This Saturday is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, marking our shortest daylight period and longest night of the year.

At 12:11 p.m. EST on December 21, the sun appears directly overhead along the Tropic of Capricorn, at 23.5 degrees south latitude. With the Earth’s north pole at its maximum tilt from the sun, locations north of the equator see the sun follow its lowest and shortest arc across the southern sky. For the next six months, the days again grow longer as the sun spends more time above the horizon.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/12/20/winter-solstice-2013-shortest-day-of-the-year-but-sunset-already-creeping-later/

[LostOne4Ever]

48. Thanks and to you too! (nt)

[MrMickeysMom]

49. Let's howl at the moon!

AAah-ooooooo!!!

[FailureToCommunicate]

50. Indeed! Drive the dark of winter away!

Merry Solstice to all!

[davidpdx]

51. I'm glad we finally to there

Now we go back toward more light.

[Scootaloo]

52. And have some music to go with it!

[Arugula Latte]

54. It's refreshing to have a Reality-Based holiday!

Happy Solstice to all!

[tjwash]

55. Your statement stirs up my fake persecution complex, and offends my sense of entitlement.

Can't a guy just enjoy his cultural dominance without someone harshing his mellow?

[libdude]

56. Happy Solstice

to All. Lit my Solstice candle, way too wet to have a fire outside. Good Yule tidings, enjoy with family and friends a remember those that have gone but have made this moment and season possible.

[Hekate]

57. Give me that Old Time Religion--Happiness from Solstice to Solstice to all

Just got back from the Christmas Revels-- 'twas great fun!

[RBInMaine]

59. No offense meant to Christians here, and I'm fine with people celebrating Christmas, BUT the TRUTH

is that trees, wreaths, yule logs, and feasts were all part of the Winter Solstice celebrations long before Christmas but why they are part of the season to this day. And in fact part of the Santa legend comes from the Yule God Odin who flew around with a long robe and a long white beard on an eight-legged
horse. The Christians co-opted the Solstice Celebrations, moving Christmas into that time period because they saw it as a threat. Jesus could not have been born at the time of the solstice because no shepherds would be out at this time.