December 21

The ancients knew to celebrate this day, as do we, whether solemnly or with joy. We know that the darkness which has slowly consumed our passing days since summer, will now give way, retreating as our Earthly inclination toward the sun grows.

The solstice officially happened several minutes past noon, and on the verge it was tempting to think that for a moment we straddled two seasons, the autumn that just was and the winter that will be. Of course it isn’t so defined we know, and this year in particular has seen December in cold and snow so that we have to remind ourselves that it is December and not January.

We look forward to this day, symbolically perhaps more than anything, as the long months of winter lie waiting just around the bend. Yet soon enough the rays will strengthen, slowly at first, almost desperately, warming the ground and the trees, melting the ice and snow, and assuredly shifting the season from one to the next.

Celebrating this point is our own accomplishment, one that will temper the harshness of what January and February will bring. We know that these seasons pass one to the next just as the solstices come and go, marking our progression and giving us hope.