Happy Yuletide and Winter Solstice

[PlantAKiss]

Happy Yule tidings to all! The winter solstice has arrived.

Tonite the longest night is done!
Each day forth will bring more sun.
Though winter now settles
her cold mantle about the woods and fields,
drawing sleep around her children green,
it is the sleep of renewal, of fresh creation.
Take this rest as you will, prepare!
The new year fast approaches
with its innocence like that of an infant
offering the cup of hope and possibilities
to all who will dare to drink.
Let the dying year lay down
its dark and weary soul,
leaving empty its vessel
for the sun to fill with new life and light.
Tonite the longest night is done!
Each day forth will bring more sun!


Happy Sun Return to you all!

 

[droseradude]

What's the winter Solstice

 

[Travis]

Very nice job PAK! Winter solstice: The planet's axis is tilted at its most away from the sun, and marks the shortest day and the beginning of winter, (in the southern hemisphere this is the summer solstice). Basically means most people are in the middle of cabin fever.

 

[TheAlphaWolf]

ugh... I'm so slow today.. nevermind.
(edited)
must be the exams... and all the sleeping...

 

[Bugweed]

So shortest day of the year! This means that each day will now start to get longer, gradually, and the blooms will soon be coming up! 3 months to go! I like California because of its fantastic growing season-- 8 to 9 months. Other than that, California sucks.

 

[schloaty]

Quote[/b] ]Other than that, California sucks.

Trade you my "lots of stuff to do, but crappy weather" for your "8 to 9 month growing season and it sucks."

Nice poem Suzanne! We'll make a druid of you yet!

 

[PlantAKiss]

lol Schloaty.  

The solstice means each day from now on we get a few more minutes of daylight!  The days will get longer.  At first you won't notice much, but after a few weeks you'll see its not getting dark QUITE so early.  I love it!  Here it is the official beginning of winter and yet step by step we will be heading towards more daylight and SPRING!  I think its very exciting.  I hate how early it gets dark now.  

So celebrate!  We've passed our darkness day! (In plant terms it means the photoperiod will be increasing a little every day...good for the plants!)

 

[Travis]

I believe every day you get two more minutes of light after winter solstice until summer solstice *June 21*. Good greif if you get cloudy day you screwed out of your 2 minutes of light!!

 

[ZAK]

You're poem reminded me of one of my most favorite songs.

I'll post the lyrics

"EVERY SEASON"
Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children's games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season's change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring

-Nicole Nordeman

 

[schloaty]

Interesting factoid:

Anyone know WHY the coldest days of winter are still ahead, even though we're tilting back into the sun's rays?

I'll let you all speculate and answer tomorrow.....

 

[Ozzy]

I know the answer but I won't spoil the fun yet.

 

[LESLIEx317537]

Incoming solar radiation warms the earth, but it takes the earth approx 2 months to radiate the heat it captured from the sun.

In NY for example, Dec 21st shortest amount of light, so 2 months later should be cold, Feb21st. During Summer solstice 2 months later also, so approx Aug is highest temps.

Also we are closer to the sun now I think, but the angle of incoming solar radiation is more important.

 

[jimscott]

Actually, the coldest days, statistically, are during the 3rd & 4th week of January. Then it slowly begins to rise. conversely, it will be the 3rd & 4th week of July when it is statistically the warmest.