Winter Solstice began tonight, December 21, 2015, 8:48 pm

   

Welcome Winter!  Except, maybe someome 
 may have been praying too hard for rain.

USA Today/Doyle Rice, 12/21/15, includes 49 second video,"Monday's winter solstice marks the longest night." "Here comes the dark. The winter solstice — marking the longest night and shortest day of the year — is Monday night (12/21/15). The solstice occurs at the same instant everywhere on Earth. In the United States, it happens at 11:48 p.m. ET Monday (or 10:48 p.m. CT, 9:48 p.m. MT and 8:48 p.m. PT). In Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, that means the solstice actually comes on Tuesday."  Read article.

Related articles.  CNN/Katia Hetter, 12/21/15, "5 things about winter solstice." "For six months now, the days have grown shorter and the nights have grown longer -- but relief is in sight. The shortest day of the year is soon to arrive in the Northern Hemisphere. Finally, the countdown to spring will begin. It's no surprise that many cultures and religions will celebrate a holiday -- whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or pagan festivals -- that coincides with the return of the sun and longer days to come."

Other related articles. The Telegraph, UK/Science/Cameron Macphail, video by Robert Midgley, 1:03 minutes, "When is the 2015 winter solstice? Everything you need to know about the shortest day of the year." ...."The day after the winter solstice marks the beginning of lengthening days, leading up to the summer solstice in June. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's opposite. Dawn comes early, and dusk comes late. The sun is high and the shortest noontime shadow of the year happens there. In the Southern Hemisphere, people will experience their longest day and shortest night"
Huffington Post/Religion/Religion Editors, 12/16/15."Winter Solstice 2015: Shortest day of the year celebrated as Pagan Yule." .... "Officially the first day of winter, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun."
Old Farmer's Almanac, "First Day of Winder 2015: The Winter Solstice." "In 2015, winter begins on December 21, 11:48 P.M. EST. Learn more about the winter solstice. 'A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.' –Steve Martin."

Posted by Kathy Meeh