Today is the Winter Solstice. More
accurately, it occurs for a fleeting moment at 10.44 here in England. This is
when the sun’s daily maximum elevation in the sky is at its lowest. It occurs
when the North Pole is tilted furthest – 23.4 degrees – away from the Sun.
The shortest day and the longest
night ... For the ancients, this was the
moment to assert the power of light over darkness and prepare for the harsh
months ahead. Although eclipsed by Christian doctrine and contemporary
commercialism, this calendrical moment is still crucial to many, harking back
to our primitive instincts.
As a Celt, I’m always aware of the Solstice, although I’m not saying I’m going to start hacking down mistletoe with a golden sickle, as the Druids were wont to do – or so it’s said.
As a Celt, I’m always aware of the Solstice, although I’m not saying I’m going to start hacking down mistletoe with a golden sickle, as the Druids were wont to do – or so it’s said.
I’m happy to finish the
decorations with fresh greenery, make an ice candle and pour the mulled wine. This year, I've also made a sparkly 'fairy ball' with green lights and a small glass globe.
It's also a great time to curl up and read ... A Walk in the Park is a ghostly
winter’s tale to mark the occasion (now out on Amazon). When I wrote it, I scared myself to bits!
The moon. The stars. One malevolent entity.
A supernatural romance of astronomical proportions for the Winter Solstice.
A supernatural romance of astronomical proportions for the Winter Solstice.
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