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Original poster

Happy Solstice

61 replies

FourChimneys · 21/12/2022 07:34

It's the shortest day of the year. Whether you are celebrating the solstice, or are just glad that the darkest days will be behind us, have a wonderful day.

If you are celebrating, what are you doing? A lot of time spent outside and a nice meal here. I always find the winter solstice far more relevant and meaningful than Christmas.

OP posts:
TodayInahurry · 21/12/2022 07:42

One of the most important days of the year for me and all horse owners! We have been discussing it for weeks! Daylight and spring to look forward to, warmer, less mud and time to ride after work.

I am not a lover of Xmas

Nevermindthesquirrels · 21/12/2022 07:43

Woohoo! Happy days. Thanks for the reminder..

Reluctantadult · 21/12/2022 07:44

How would winter solstice have been celebrated traditionally? Off to look it up.

mincepiepie · 21/12/2022 07:46

Happy solstice!

I feel a feel affinity with midsummer and midwinter too.

I will celebrate with a a baked camembert and a slice of Christmas cake.

Midwinter for snuggling up by the fire. Mid summer for balmy summer nights.

theswoot · 21/12/2022 07:47

We have turned the year!

CharityShopChic · 21/12/2022 07:50

Best day of the year. The horrendous dark nights are not going to get worse from here.

LadyEloise1 · 21/12/2022 07:53

Check out Newgrange Winter Solstice on Google.
It is a Neolithic passage tomb, older than Stonhenge and the Egyptian pyramids. It is aligned on the Winter Solstice sunrise.
The rising sun, on the solstice shines through a roofbox at the entrance and floods the central part of the tomb with sunlight.
It truly is amazing that our early ancestors constructed such a structure.
It is a Unesco World Heritage site.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 21/12/2022 07:57

It'll start getting lighter - I'm happy.

Original poster
FourChimneys · 21/12/2022 08:06

Reluctantadult there are many ways of celebrating, everyone does it differently, but many of the traditions thought to be Christmassy are from earlier celebrations. Bringing greenery indoors is an obvious example. Lighting up the darkness with fire, or more recently fairy lights, is another.

Charityshopchic I agree, it's all upwards from here. I find the winter solstice to be far happier than the summer one as it's downwards from then on.

LadyEloise1 yes, it is incredible.

The actual moment of the solstice in the UK is 21.47 pm tonight if anyone wants to spend a quiet minute or so.

OP posts:
weRone · 21/12/2022 08:09

thank you! It had slipped my mind that the days are getting lighter again. Love the solstice.

ivykaty44 · 21/12/2022 08:11

Is it the shortest day? Is it not the longest night?

clairethewitch70 · 21/12/2022 08:12

I celebrated with my Coven last Sunday. Will spend time with the Holly and oaks in my garden as soon as I finish work today.

Happy Solstice
Itsbiasedhere · 21/12/2022 08:12

Happy solstice. I look forward to brighter and longer days.

Catonlapfireon · 21/12/2022 08:12

Happy Solstice
Im gathering with friends for a fire, storytelling and self created ceremony in which we’ll be burning a Yule log.
Today feels like the final sigh and I’m so happy the darkness is lifting!

AceofPentacles · 21/12/2022 08:12

I'll be having a fire ritual in the garden later . Happy solstice !

Decafflatteplease · 21/12/2022 08:15

It's a very special day for us too.

we try to live by the seasons and although I love the enforced rest of midwinter I also look forward to the return of the light.

There's something almost holy about today I can't really explain it but it's very special.

We made candles on the summer solstice and will light them this evening.

ivykaty44 · 21/12/2022 08:15

How would winter solstice have been celebrated traditionally? Off to look it up.

it would have originally been 1st January, when 25th March was the new year on the old Julian calendar

Brahumbug · 21/12/2022 08:19

Natalia Sol Invictus!😁

1ittlegreen · 21/12/2022 08:27

I've been waiting for this day.

My dad is coming home from hospital after 9 months. We are nervous but excited. I'm so thrilled the dark days are over.

Blessed winter solstice x

ISaySteadyOn · 21/12/2022 08:28

Happy solstice! I am so glad that we have made it through the darkest days. I think today we will bring our tree inside.

TheABC · 21/12/2022 08:29

Blessed solstice here. I am light candles and planning a meal with a walk on the beach, later.

Natsku · 21/12/2022 08:34

Happy Solstice! I don't celebrate the winter one, just midsummer, but it is nice to think that the days are getting longer from now on (as they're only 5 hours long at the moment where I live!).

Perhaps I'll light a candle in the snow lantern I made, that seems an appropriate way to mark the winter solstice.

SingingSands · 21/12/2022 08:36

I am taking part in a solstice run tonight, which raises money for Sue Ryder. It's a 10k trail run with head torches!

Seaweasel · 21/12/2022 08:37

@TodayInahurry 😁 Definitely being a horse owner made us follow these ancient celebrations for the first time. Nothing puts you in tune with the turning of the spheres more than juggling a grass-kept pony on DIY and a full-time job. Happy solstice!

HeatwaveToNightshade · 21/12/2022 08:42

Was just thinking about this the other day and then promptly forgot when the day arrived. Thanks for reminding me. Winter solstice always fills me with optimism!