[null and void]

Yes. It's just long enough after winter solstice that one can tell the sun isn't going to keep retreating to the south.

It's a celebration of the [re]birth of the sun and the birth of the Son.

[operation clinton cleanup]

I would be willing to worship a God that made each day 12 hours light, 12 hours dark, at a constant 78 degrees. But I guess that is why we have electric lights, curtains, heating and air conditioning..... all in all, I guess I have no complaints.