Winter Solstice

     At 12:47 pm today, December 21, 2009, winter officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere.  We refer to this event as the Winter Solstice -- the shortest day of the year, when the North Pole is tilted away from the sun at its steepest angle (an average of 23.5 degrees).  This phenomenon is also what drives the seasons as the Earth revolves around the sun.  Of course, if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, say in Australia, today marks the beginning of Summer; it's the longest day of the year.  Here in the North, we won't experience our longest day until the tilt of the Earth's axis swings back to its closest point to the sun -- some time around June 21, 2010. The word "solstice" is derived from the Latin phrase for "sun stands still."  The phrase refers to the illusion that the sun's arc through the sky appears to stabilize (after growing lower and shorter since the summer solstice); thus, the sun seems to rise and set in the same two points for several days just before the solstice.  After the winter solstice, the arc will grow higher and longer until a similar effect occurs at the summer solstice.

     I present all these facts about the winter solstice to make the point that this is a natural phenomenon that has been occurring since the dawn of time -- long before humans ever appeared on the earth -- and will continue to occur until the sun burns out (most likely long after humans are gone from the earth).  The solstice has nothing to do with religion, although people from ancient times forward have observed it and ascribed varying depths of meaning to it. 

     The Roman Feast of Saturnalia was a weeklong feast honoring the god Saturn and included an observance of the solstice.  Germanic peoples of Northern Europe celebrated the winter solstice with Yule festivals -- hence the origins of the long-burning "yule log."  Scholars don't know the exact date of the birth of Jesus Christ (and, therefore, the birth of Christianity).  Early Christian calendars were centered around Easter, not Christmas.  But, over time, Christmas celebrations became mingled with pagan winter solstice observances.  As pagan peoples were converted to Christianity, the date of the winter solstice celebration "became available," and December 25th became the default date for the celebration of the birth of Christ.

     It is worth noting that cultures around the world observe the solstices in many different ways, regardless of the prevailing religion.  It seems to me that, in the rush of the predominantly Christian observance of the season in this country, we tend to lose sight of the wonder of nature that is unfolding before our eyes.  Earlier this evening I happened to be out shopping (yes, "Christmas shopping," if you must know).  Around 4:50 pm I pulled into a parking spot.  My car was facing west; for a few minutes I sat in the car and watched the sun sink lower and lower to the horizon.  It was a beautiful sunset on this, the first day of winter.  I felt a little sad at the passing of the light, knowing that the warm autumnal glow of the sunlight over the last few months will be replaced tomorrow by a decidedly different intensity.  After all, the earth's axis has tilted back toward the sun.  The days are getting longer now, although it will be a long time before the temperature catches up.  

     Six weeks from now, I'll be tired of winter and ready for the warmth of spring to arrive.  But for now, I'll welcome winter.  I like the change of the seasons.  And later this week, there's a strong possibility of snow -- just in time for Christmas.  Of course, in Australia, they're probably dreaming of a sunny, 80 degree Christmas.