Solstice

Yesterday was the official beginning of winter.  The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year.  However, as a child, saying that the 21st of December was the longest night of the year confused me.

Any child can tell you that the longest night of the year is actually 3 nights later...Christmas Eve.  The excitement and anticipation just made those night time hours drag by until Christmas morning.  Especially for my younger brother and I who had to share a double bed with a fairly large dog on Christmas Eve when we stayed at my Grandmother's house.

Here are a few fun facts about the Winter Solstice:

1. During the winter solstice the northern hemisphere experiences its shortest day and longest night of the year, however the southern hemisphere experiences its longest night and shortest day of the year.
2. The winter solstice is also referred to as Midwinter, the Longest Night, and Yule.
3. During the winter solstice the sun appears to be at its lowest point in the sky.
4. During the winter solstice the sun isn't moving - it's actually the earth tilting away from the sun.
5. Although winter solstice marks the beginning of the astrological winter, the coldest winter days are yet to come, often not for a month or even two.