Emily's Musings

Happy Winter

Happy first day of winter. Apparently, the winter of 2005/2006 will start on the 21st of December, 2005, at 1:35 PM EST. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Solstice rites are one of the oldest celebrations, dating back to the dawn of modern civilization some 30,000 years ago. Winter solstice observances were held by virtually every culture in the world. Solstice rites were practiced among such diverse groups as Native South Americans, Celts, Persians, Orientals, and Africans.

Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.

"Whether celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Yule, we can all delight in the season as a time to renew family ties, take joy in our natural environment, reflect on the events of the old year, and look forward in anticipation to the new. As the winter solstice demonstrates to us, every ending is a new beginning." Lisa Hutchins