Winter Solstice: The Feast Of Juul, Thor And Why Pagans Celebrate The Shortest Day Of The Year

Telegraph UK ^ | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | Cameron Macphail

[SunkenCiv]

The December solstice happens at the same instant for everyone, everywhere on Earth – and this year the solstice occurs tomorrow, on Thursday December 21st at 16:28 GMT.

The winter solstice happens every year when the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees. In other words, it is when the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the Sun, delivering the fewest hours of sunlight of the year.

The Sun is directly overhead of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere during the December solstice and is closer to the horizon than at any other time in the year, meaning shorter days and longer nights.

The shortest day of the year lasts for 7 hours 49 minutes and 41 seconds in Britain, which is 8 hours, 49 minutes shorter than the June Solstice. As such, Wednesday December 20th is the longest night of the year with the sun not rising until 08:04 GMT on Thursday morning...

[SunkenCiv]

[Rio]

I like Winter Solstice because it means that the days are going to get LONGER!

[Paladin2]

Me too. I like to build a big fire to help bring the heat back.

[babble-on]

Interesting.

Do any other world religions have major holidays around the solstice? Oh, they all do? Hmmm.

[SunkenCiv]

During the winter of the northern hemisphere, the Earth is closer to the Sun; this (all other things being equal) makes our winters a little milder than those of the southern hemisphere, and makes their summers hotter.

[Yo-Yo]

I like Winter Solstice because it means that the days are going to get LONGER!

Mick from Sydney begs to differ with you.

[SunkenCiv]

[BenLurkin]

They were primitive brutes, but they could tell time after a fashion.

[Pelham]

"Mick from Sydney begs to differ with you."

"Who cares?"- Northern Hemisphere Privilege

[gr8eman]

True if Earth was in a concentric orbit...but it’s NOT! It’s in an elliptic orbit, which all natural orbits are! Only controlled satellites are in man-made circular orbits. That globe thing called an orrery is the worst teaching tool ever! It’s shocking how many people don’t know that! I also was taught the planets are in circular orbits.

[sparklite2]

Yes, it is fashionable in some circles to hate on pagans while blithely appropriating their holidays. You know who you are.

[BipolarBob]

Sacrificing a truck tire to the winter gods does wonders to appease them.

/s

[SunkenCiv]

Try crushing your meds into a powder and snorting them.

[SunkenCiv]

:^) When it gets cold, they can switch to down underwear.

[SunkenCiv]

Same here, not the fire part, but i does sound nice. OTOH, just when I start to enjoy summer, the dang days start to get shorter again.

[truth_seeker]

“I like Winter Solstice because it means that the days are going to get LONGER!”

Me too, since I generally exercise outdoors in late afternoon. Winter Solstice means it is getting better, light and temp wise.

[SunkenCiv]

[Mears]

” ———just when I start to enjoy summer, the dang days start to get shorter again.”

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I’m the opposite-—just when I start to enjoy winter the days get longer again.

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[SunkenCiv]

"There is no Danaans, only Juul."

[SunkenCiv]

Feast Of Juul