Today is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. I believe the summer solstice occurred in the southern hemisphere yesterday, lucky you. But for me it is the shortest day of the year, which I like to think of as the beginning of the days getting longer. According to National Geographic News, "Solstice" comes from the Latin phrase for "sun stands still." The sun has stopped getting lower and lower in the sky and appears to rise and set in the same spot, for several days. In 2010, a lunar eclipse coincided with the winter solstice, which somehow seems fitting.
National Geo has lots of solstice facts that give me pause, like although it is the shortest day, it's not the coldest. That's yet to come. Happy summer gardening to you southern hemis. For my fellow northerners, (and a special shout out to my counting partner, dot) only 89 days until spring!
Photo: Chris Hondros / Getty Images News
Comments
Happy Winter Marie.We might as well accept it:)
Have to run.
Cheers
yayy! its really not too bad for the first day of winter, just damp and chilly here. we are hibernating!