A Very Happy Solstice to All!

[3113]

On December 22, the Planet's tilt upon its axis, combined with its orbit, will be such that the Northern Hemisphere will be angled as far away from the sun as it can be, and the, Southern Hemisphere will angled as close to the sun as it can be. Thus, the Northern Hemisphere will have the longest night of the year, and the Southern will have the longest day of the year.

So light up the yule log or the summer bonfires and celebrate this zenith of night and day. Northern folk stay warm and bright, and southern folk enjoy that sunshine.

A very happy Solstice to you all!

http://www.gaiamind.org/graphics/galignment.jpg​

 

[rgraham666]

Thank you. And a Merry Christmas to you as well.

 

[christabelll]

A very Merry, Happy and Joy filled Solstice to all...

ANd thus do the twelve days of christmas begin.... (old world pre-gregorian calendar)...

Light a candle...
Whip up a posset...
Exchange small but meaninful words or gifts
Toast the Planetary New Year!

Hugs and Kisses all around...

 

[trysail]

... and a happy solstice to you!

Thanks for this thread. Every year, the winter solstice is a very important date for me as I suffer a mild case of S.A.D. I always look forward to the day 'cause there's something about knowing that the days are going to do nothing 'cept lengthen for the next six months that I find uplifting and of comfort.

Hot damn!! 'afore ye know it, it'll be summer. Yessssssssssssssss!!!!

[Does happy dance]

 

[jomar]

Cheers!

 

[R. Richard]

On December 22, the Planet will tilt on its axis to a point where we, in the Northern Hemisphere, will have the longest night of the year and those in the Southern Hemisphere will have the longest day of the year.

Just to be picky:
The Earth has an axial tilt of about 23° 26’. The axis is tilted in the same direction throughout a year; however, as the Earth orbits the Sun, the hemisphere tilted away from the Sun will gradually become tilted towards the Sun, and vice versa. The Earth's axial tilt is the main cause of the seasons. Whichever hemisphere is currently tilted toward the Sun experiences more hours of sunlight each day, and the sunlight at midday also strikes the ground at an angle nearer the vertical and thus delivers more heat.

 

[starrkers]

Oh no! I don't want this day to last the longest - it's awful!! Big mean ugly storm front rolled in last night and camped over us.

 

[3113]

Just to be picky:
The Earth has an axial tilt of about 23° 26’. The axis is tilted in the same direction throughout a year; however, as the Earth orbits the Sun, the hemisphere tilted away from the Sun will gradually become tilted towards the Sun, and vice versa. The Earth's axial tilt is the main cause of the seasons. Whichever hemisphere is currently tilted toward the Sun experiences more hours of sunlight each day, and the sunlight at midday also strikes the ground at an angle nearer the vertical and thus delivers more heat.

Ah. Thank you for that clarification! I will edit and adjust the initial post to reflect this. One likes to be accurate

 

[playwithlezli]

So thankful that the days are getting longer, today there is just under 8 hours of true daylight for us here in southern Alberta. At least it was sunny all day. And now off to watch the sunset.

 

[Chantilyvamp]

May you all be blessed today and through the year

 

[starrkers]

Well the rain stopped about 3 hours ago. The wind is dying down now (I think). It's nearly 9pm and still light.
Today was definitely seriously yucky. All five cats spent the day asleep in the caravan.
The town Christmas Party was supposed to be on at the town swimming pool this evening to be followed by the movies at the pool. The party was a washout and the movies have been postponed to next week.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

Sweet blessings and a grand new beginning of the cycle of light to you all!

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Now the days begin to lengthen, the start of a new year. (How they do rush by.)

Happy Solstice to all, and to all, a Merry Christmas!

 

[gauchecritic]

Just to be picky:
The Earth has an axial tilt of about 23° 26’. The axis is tilted in the same direction throughout a year; however, as the Earth orbits the Sun, the hemisphere tilted away from the Sun will gradually become tilted towards the Sun, and vice versa. The Earth's axial tilt is the main cause of the seasons. Whichever hemisphere is currently tilted toward the Sun experiences more hours of sunlight each day, and the sunlight at midday also strikes the ground at an angle nearer the vertical and thus delivers more heat.

Just to be picky on the picky: Not strictly true because (I forget how long it takes) but the axis also precesses or wobbles. so not only does the earth spin but the poles also spin (albeit very slowly) about their own 'axis'.

I think that's by the by though, because try as I might I can't picture how, if the same pole points at the sun all the time there would be any seasonal changes.

But happy solstice anyway.