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Happy winter! For those living in the northern hemisphere, today marks the winter solstice, also known as the first official day of winter. It happens when one of Earth’s poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun. In the northern hemisphere, winter comes in December, while in the Southern hemisphere, it comes in June. For everyone in the corresponding hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. People have acknowledged the winter solstice, with various ceremonies and celebrations, since the dawn of civilization. Even Stonehenge, which was erected during the Stone Age, is oriented toward the winter solstice sunset.

In ancient Rome, Saturnalia was a weeklong celebration leading up to the winter solstice. It was meant to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture, and celebrate the last harvest before winter. After a public animal sacrifice was performed at the Temple of Saturn, citizens would exchange gifts. Once Saturnalia’s public banquet got underway and citizens began consuming alcohol, things often got rowdy. A “King of Saturnalia”, was chosen via a game of chance. The king dared people to do ridiculous or humiliating things, like running naked through the streets or singing in front of the large Saturnalia crowd.

Although yule logs are thought of as a Christmas tradition today, they originated in Scandinavia, with the ancient Norsemen. Yule was celebrated from the winter solstice through January. Households would begin burning one end of a large log on the winter solstice, and feast until the log completely burned out, which usually took a week or more. Yule logs were also used to tell fortunes. Some believed that sparks from a yule log marked the number of pigs or calves that would be born the following spring.

In China and Taiwan, the Dongzhi Festival has been celebrated on the winter solstice for at least 2,000 years. Today, it is celebrated by getting together with family and eating tangyuan, a dessert of glutinous rice balls in broth or syrup. Tangyuan represents reunion, since family members who may not see each other much throughout the year eat together on this important holiday. Of course, many countries today no longer have specific holidays to honor the winter solstice. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good excuse to do some sledding, ice skating, or whatever winter activity you like best.

Captain_Feelgood 8 Dec 27
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The solstice was on the 21st.🤨

Exactly.

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As a cattleman with a bunch of cows winter is the worst time of year for me as the grass Is no longer green and the cows have to be supplemented quite heavily. I’m hoping for a mild winter and an early spring.

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