Today is the shortest day!

[Tickets25]

Always gives me a bit of a boost that lighter days are on the way!

I'm on the London/Surrey borders. Sunrise today is 08.02 and sunset 15.54. On 31.12, sunrise will be 8.05, on 12 1, 08.01 and by 31.1, 07.40.

In the garden, I have a couple of roses in bloom, the penstemon and salvia have only just gone, and also in flower: cyclamen, pansies, the hellebores are opening, some winter jasmin, viburnum and daphne. The spring bulbs are coming through at pace and the velvet nubs on the magnolias are evident. The beech is russet and crisp but two thirds of the leaves are still on - the holly is particularly heavy with berries.

Me too! Always have a bottle of fizz today to celebrate (non-alcoholic now since alcohol stopped agreeing with me 😒)

It’s my red letter day!! The miserable dark morning
dog walks will start receding from today onwards.

My favorite day too.

@Tickets25 , thank you for that. In the chaos that is the run up to Christmas it had passed me by. I hate the dark and grey of winter and you’ve started my day on a lovely hopeful note. ☺️

I do love the changes in season though and the fact we have the long hours of daylight in summer. People often talk about escaping to Australia but my DB lives in Queensland and even in summer it’s dark there by 6pm ish. They really miss our summers. Something to be grateful for.

Yay, so glad so many of you feel the same!

It’s my DD’s birthday!

Love that she’s got a witchy date..

It’s my birthday today, I struggle with the short days so I’m always glad longer days are coming!

How I hate the winter! Thank you for offering this tiny ray of hope in the gloom!

I feel like in my 50s I’ve finally got into the rhythm of the years.

I’ve always loved the light nights in summer - if I could work magic it would stay that way all year. But about 15 years ago we started celebrating the solstices (just a minor celebration- not converting to Druidism), and it’s really helped.

It helps me deal with the dark nights in November and December by acknowledging that it’s a countdown to solstice.

I’m Scotland, albeit central belt. Sunset is 15:39 today. TBH there have been years when I have been desperate to get over 21 Dec but it’s not so bad this year. I wonder if I soaked up a lot of sun over the rest of the year. It was the second sunniest year in Scotland in history apparently. Maybe I’m like Frederick the field mouse. But it’s still a day of celebration!

it is such a relief!
it has come around

I cannot wait for the days to get a little longer. Today where I am sunrise is 9:45 and sunset is 14:53!

I’m in the far north of Scotland - sunrise for me today was 08.46 and sunset will be 15.27. Today is a day for rest, and to know that the light is coming.

Enjoy all ☀️

we are 08.08 and 16.05 here (Poole) quite the difference for such a small island

I agree it is good when days start getting longer. Would be even better if we had BST all year round, most places would be light until 6 by school half term.

sunset 3.56 pm today
they are playing In the Bleak Midwinter on the radio currently

7:57:30 am was the sunrise here

I'm pleased it's the shortest day too. Sunrise here 8.18 and sunset 16.18.

Such a difference indeed in this tiny island. Have always wanted to live on the south coast and now I have another reason!

Northerndoglover I will send positive thoughts northwards to your snowdrops.

They really do herald the start of the gardening year, don't they? We have several places near here where they are especially plentiful, I have dates in my 2026 diary to visit two with friends, and DH and I will have a walk to another.

Amazing ! I dread the gloom and darkness, cold and rain, bugs etc.
This day brings hope lighter days will soon be upon us 😀 happy day everyone x

And it’s also my dc’s birthday 😊