WINTER SOLSTICE
I like winter solstice as I watch the days get shorter and shorter. I eagerly wait until the days start to get longer and we move toward spring. I also like the folklore connected to winter solstice. Ancient peoples had a variety of celebrations for the day. They also were fairly exact in pinpointing the time of the solstice.
So with all this in mind, I decided to follow the solstice a little closer at my place. I decided to go out and photograph the afternoon every hour to show how the day takes it's course.
The first two photos were taken at 2:00 PM. The first one looking south and the second looking north.
The next tow photos were taken at 3:00 PM. The cloud thickened slightly.
The next two photos were taken at 4:00 PM. The sun sets at 4:26 PM.
This photo shows the west were the sun set at 5;00 PM
The last three photos were taken at 5:00 Pm. It's hard to show darkness with all the street lights.
So today the sun rose at 8:42 AM and set at 4:24 PM. It gave us 7 hours, 41 minutes and 47 seconds of the sun being up.
Wow! I was out and about at 2:45. Nice blue skies. Then, on my way home from the library around 3:45, it was starting to grow twilight and dusk was quick on my heels as I entered my house. Happy Winter Solstice!
ReplyDeleteHappy winter Solstice to you. Here's to longer days.
DeleteWhat an interesting post! I like all your photo and time comparisons!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I didn't notice that they were so dark.
DeleteVery interesting Red, showing your day of shortest daylight hours.
ReplyDeleteDown here, in the southern hemisphere, we are just heading into shortening daylight hours but it won't be noticeable for some weeks.
Alphie.
Same here. The change wont't be noticed for a few weeks. I hope you're not where the fires are.
DeleteI live in the inner city so no bushfires here. However there is total devastation in many parts of other states. Not a happy time.
DeleteAlphie.
Happy Solstice. I look forward to the longer days as I know you do and so do many others. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHey, Merry Christmas to you and have a great 2020.
DeleteNow that's dedication. The Druids would have been proud of you, Red.
ReplyDeleteThanks. The Druids would probably had some mead !
DeleteWe get just a bit more down here closer to the equator, but like you I will be glad when sun returns. Except with clmate change, warmer weather may no longer bring the joy it once did.
ReplyDeleteI wish more people could see the reality of climate change.
DeleteYes, the dark days before Christmas we call it here.
ReplyDeleteThrow in a little cloud and dark days is the right term.
DeleteThat's a nice project.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I have to find a few more projects like that.
DeleteFor me the sun rose at 0910 and set at 1534 giving 6h 24m of daylight. I'm at 58º12'N and 6º13' W.
ReplyDeleteYou are much further north. Bur your summer days are awesome.
Delete...longer day are my Christmas gift.
ReplyDeleteLonger days lift the spirits.
DeleteThat's a late sunrise and dark morning. But we can all now look forward to longer days ... yay!
ReplyDeleteWe have to look forward with some patience.
DeleteHappy Winter Solstice to you! Beautiful photos capturing the light on this shortest day. Now the sun begins its return.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time at the solstice.
DeleteWhat a fun series! So happy we're on the upturn.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Just think what it meant to those living in stone huts or skin tents.
DeleteWhat a neat series of photos. Helps me feel like we've turned the corner and now on to longer daylight. Thanks for the post and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas John. Have a great 2020.
DeleteNo wonder the ancients celebrated the winter solstice - it's so heartening to know the days will start to lengthen again! Nice set of photos that show just how quickly the darkness falls.
ReplyDeleteJust think that the ancients lived in stone huts or tents. Warmer weather to them was crucial.
DeleteGood shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteAnd now the days will get longer and longer, with less darkness at night. It's a wonderful world, I think. Happy Solstice to you, Red! :-)
ReplyDeleteIf we lived outside all the time the world would be better yet!
DeleteNice post, Red. The darkness does come fast this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It also seems like we get lots of cloudy weather to add to the dull days.
DeleteWe enjoyed a solstice fire to brighten up the evening yesterday, and I look forward to the days lengthening. The shortest day of the year was dark and gloomy all day. No idea when the sun rose or set!
ReplyDeleteGood that you were out and enjoyed the outdoors. Just think that many ancients lived in stone huts or skin tents.
DeleteWe marked the solstice with proper attention yesterday too. The solstice figures in prominently to Nordic peoples, which is my heritage. With due deference to those more religious, it could be said to be "the reason for the season".
ReplyDeleteSince Nordic people lived in the north they experienced more extremes in days. When in Inuvik, we always went to Old Baldie to welcome the sun back.
DeleteNice shots. I love that we will start seeing more daylight from here on in!
ReplyDeleteIt is always a relief to reach the turning point even though the worst of winter is usually still to come.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Red! Hope you and the micro manager have a wonderful holiday:)
ReplyDeleteA nice series, Red.
ReplyDeleteHere in Sydney our shortest days are longer than yours and of course a lot warmer so the winter solstice is less important but I still breathe a sigh of relief once it's past.
ReplyDeleteI wish you Happy Holidays, Red
A good record to keep and also enjoyable photos. Thanks Red :)
ReplyDeleteThe examples really does show how the it keeps working. Our five o'clock really is about the same here. We drove from Chicago home last evening and it was amazing to watch a very distinct cloud formation completely change in to scatter section as we drove toward it.
ReplyDeletei find solstice day and night fascinating still like when i was little ,imagining the earth tilting is still thrilling to me :)
ReplyDeletethese are magnificent shots ,i felt almost there dear Red
It’s so weird that as a child I never paid attention to the days getting shorter in winter. However, I really notice it now. Even here in Hawaii. The morning sunlight starts later and the evening darkness comes earlier.
ReplyDelete