On this day, at 4:20 AM (EST), the planet reached the point in its orbit called “Winter Solstice.” (“Summer” for you Aussies …) It is the planetary “New Year.”

Because the length of the day changes so little now, ancient observers noted when the sun stopped apparent daily movement, counted the days until movement could be detected again, and divided by two. The day when the days would perceptibly begin to lengthen was – the 25th: Merry Christmas. (The Druids used another name.)

The Gregorian “New Year’s Day,” one week later, has no celestial basis.

Not sure how accurate it is, but this is an entertaining read on the topic:
https://gist.github.com/joyeusenoell...aad3eb9543f3ce

Anyway,

Happy Midwinter festival everyone!.. however you happen to name it.

https://hrussman.neocities.org/ramblings/christmas.

Happy planetary New year.

The appropriate reply for a J.W. comes from Ebeneezer Scrooge: "Bah, Humbug!"

Drew Carey (not a J.W.) is great on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhkbp35rgJ0

EDIT: The Roman date of celebrating 'Natalis Sol Invictii' or Saturnalia comes from the difficulty in detecting when the Solstice exactly is. On the 22nd, for instance, the sun rises some 5 minutes earlier, but sets 2 minutes earlier. So it's the 25th before they're sure the sun has turned the corner.

Ireland has a very precise measurement device in Newgrange but the sky is always cloudy so it's rarely spectacular. It uses the sun's low angle on the solstice to shine light up a passage in a passage tomb or grave. Astronomically, the solstice isn't always the 21st of the year.

(C'mon, @business_kid: Leave "J.W." out of the picture. Doesn't belong.)

Ancient observers carefully marked the progress of the Sun, and erected markers or monuments – or noted natural features. The equinoxes were easiest to mark because the change in the length of the day/night is greatest at these times. (The sinusoidal slope is then 45º.) The solstices were hardest, because the change is least. (Slope 0º.) "Math" was really the only way to know, and the 25th was a day of genuine celebration in the Northern hemisphere.

The worst thing about this time of year is that: "When the days get longer, the cold becomes stronger." This is the first day of Winter. Which can indeed be quite hideous, depending on your latitude ...

The best things are:

• In a few weeks, you'll finally start beginning to hear "normal" songs being played on the radio again.
• Your next-door-neighbor will pack up those kitschy inflatables in his front yard.
• Hopefully, none of those dried Christmas tries caught fire and burned anyone's house down.

Happy New Year to ye!

Prosit Neujahr!

The First New Year where temperatures hover above 0. One day after Xmas it even reached 10°C !
I have been in Quebec 62 years, never seen anything like this. It worries me.

But:

*** Happy New Years and all the best to everyone !

Mid-60s Fahrenheit in my part of the world--indeed, at that level for the better part of the last two weeks. Also worrying.

But life goes on whether you want it to or not, so best wishes for the new year.