For those of us with colder temperatures, or even snow, winter seems like it arrived a few weeks ago, but according to the U.S Naval Observatory Eqinoxes and Solstices list, winter officially makes its appearance today at 12:47 p.m. Around here, temperatures are moderate with a high today of 62F. However, Wednesday and Thursday are another matter.
I will be taking a walk outdoors today. Want to come along?
We may even get snow the morning of Christmas Eve. I shiver just thinking about it, but it would be lovely to have a white Christmas. I can only remember three white Christmases in my life, so it’s doubtful, but, still, like children, we can dream.
My friend, Tim, of From the Far Away Nearby posted on Facebook today wishing all a Happy Solstice and then wrote that it was probably the oldest celebrated holiday of the season. I’m sure that’s true.
Imagine being a person from antiquity. You live outdoors, or in a cave with only your fire to warm and protect you from the elements and predators. Someone had to keep those home fires burning, and with such long nights, you would cheer the sun’s return and slightly longer days.
Truth told, I’m glad to see those longer days too, even if we still have a lot of winter to go. I’m even happier to celebrate Christmas. Whether you think Christ’s birth was placed on December 25th, because it was nine months after the Annunciation, or to usurp a Roman holiday (Sol Invictus), or because of the Winter Solstice, I believe there’s another reason. For those of us who call ourselves Christians, He is the Light of the World, and today, the 21st is the O Antiphon reflecting that:
“O Oriens (in English meaning “Radiant Dawn” or “Dayspring”):
“O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.”
The O Antiphons are sung during the Liturgy of the Hours from December 17-23, and many of them are the basis of Advent hymns like the haunting O Come, O Come Emmuel.
What better teaching tool than to place His birthday during the darkest time of the year?
Whether you celebrate Christmas, the Solstice, Hannukah or Kwanzaa (have I forgotten anyone?), I wish you joy. I also hope you get outside and enjoy the sunshine in this shortest day of the year. I know I will.
Whenever someone mentions caves, I’m taken back to a college criticism and theory class and a week’s worth of Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave.”
How are we truly brought from darkness to light? The Christ child.
Merry Christmas!
(Truth be told, I asked for an early spring for Christmas.)
Wishing you the happiest of holidays, dear Dee! On this beautiful night, I will include a special prayer that freezing rain will not hinder your Christmas Eve plans.
A lovely post, Dee! I like your idea that Christmas is appropriately celebrated at this time because during these dark days we can all use some hope. Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas!
Merry Christmas Dee! I have enjoyed your posts this past year and look forwarding to reading more in 2010. H
I’ve enjoyed the unusual warm days here in Piedmont America! I was blessed by your photos and by the reminder of our Light in this dark time of year.
Happy solstice to you! I love enya’s music as well. Your decorations look beautiful. Have a great Christmas as well.
Thanks for the lovely tour, Dee. To imagine how hard life must have been in ancient times is scary. We too had some warmth the last couple of days, but might see that white Christmas too. I think it has happened once before since we moved back to TN. It was often so in PA. I am trying to remember any in OK, there surely must have been some. None in CA or TX. Oooh, my head hurts now. The very best of holidays for you and yours, Dee.
The short days, lack of sunshine, are the hardest part of winter for me. I’m very happy to see the solstice begin to give us a little more light.
Dee, I hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas to you and your family and a blessed New Year.
Marnie
You too, Marnie. For me, it’s February. A complete lack of light and long day with not holiday (other than Valentine’s Day) to break up the month.~~Dee
The sun is finally shining and the temperatures are warming up! Yippee…I love the idea of a snowy Christmas…but if we can’t have that, then give me a warm sunny day! What a marvelous rendition of Emmanuel! Happiest of holidays, Dee, Blessings to you and your family. gail
.-= Gail´s last blog ..O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree =-.
You too, Gail. Merry Christmas.~~Dee
A moving and inspirational peace. thank you Dee, for your magnificent writings.
Thanks Merry. Love your name this time of year.~~Dee
Your blog entry is PERFECT as always. THank you for sharing your blessed Christmas with us. It looks like the garden is enjoying it’s holiday don’t you think?
((HUGS))
Bren, truly, I am enjoying the garden’s holiday. It is best that I don’t live further south.~~Dee
Hmmm, I started to imagine myself in a cold cave with winter at the door…and decided not to go down that road! LOL! Much too cold.
What a lovely post.
.-= Susan Tomlinson´s last blog ..Backstage: Academic frippery, explained =-.
Yes, I’m glad I’m not a person of antiquity too living in a cave. Ugh.~~Dee
Very thought provoking. I love this version of O Come O Come Emmanuel. It’s one of my favorite hymns.
I honestly do not know what our weather was like today as I arrived at work in the dark and left at dusk. In between, I spent most of the time in windowless meeting rooms. Isn’t that a shame?
I love the anticipation of Advent, the arrival of the Christ Child, the Light of the World.
I hope we all have a chance to rest and enjoy this beautiful season, to let it soak in and nourish us!
.-= Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog ..Winter Solstice: Our Thoughts Turn To Gardening =-.
Merry Christmas Carol. Hope you enjoy your time off work.~~Dee
Lovely thoughts, Dee. Here’s to light and life!
.-= Cindy, MCOK´s last blog ..A Bedraggled December Bloom Day =-.
Amen to that Cindy!~~Dee
Amen Dee! H.
.-= Helen Yoest @ Gardening With Confidence´s last blog ..Fresh Cut Christmas Trees Versus Artifical Trees =-.
:)~~Dee
Yes, it is all about the light, isn’t it. Thanks for a great post.
Thanks Les.~~Dee
Sunshine? What sunshine? The winter solstice is worth celebrating as the beginning of longer days. I love Enya and I’ve always love “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” together they’re perfect. I’ve been thinking I need to get some Advent music, which is beautiful in its own right.
.-= Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..Frigid Friday: A Holiday Story =-.
Sorry, Hon, but the days are lengthening, and the light is becoming stronger. Spring will come someday. The spring inside our hearts starts now.~~Dee
Dee – what a magnificent post. I love the dualism of the holidays that celebrates the son/sun and the forthcoming brightness and joy both are associated with. Since so many of our Christmas traditions were practiced centuries before the birth of Christ – I think you are right about the Church choosing to celebrate His birth during a time of year that was already celebrated – the dualism makes perfect sense.
I have never heard of the O Antiphons – what a beautiful concept! And Enya is my favorite – but I have not heard this recording. Beautiful post!
.-= TR´s last blog ..Photo of the Day: Taking Refuge – Cambodia =-.
Thanks Tim. Your words were the inspiration.~~Dee
No sunshine here. A new dusting of snow. Happy Winter Solstice to you, too!
.-= Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog ..Snowfall Records =-.
Hang in there my upstate New York friend. Brrr.~~Dee
You are having a heat wave. I have been outside today but it sure isn’t sunny or warm. I am glad it isn’t sleeting. We have a skiff of snow though. Just right for the holidays. I hope it lasts. This rendition of Emmanuel is almost like a chant. Beautiful. Happy Winter Solstice.
To you too, Lisa. Yes, the weather is weird as always. One day hot, one day cold.~~Dee