Posted: 12/21/2006 6:25:02 AM EDT
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Here in the northern hemisphere, winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year. That is, when our part of the world is tipped furthest away from the live-giving Sun. A scientific discussion: scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/WinterSolstice.html Since the beginnings of conscious humankind, the apparent ‘weakening’ of the Sun has been a matter of concern. Early people could see and feel the sunlight waning – and they very much wanted and needed it to once again brighten and strengthen. With the advent of timekeeping and a general notion of the cyclical nature of the seasons, people started keeping track of the day from whence forward the Sun would once again intensify. As this is vitally important to agriculture and human survival, people all around the world developed their own theologies about the Winter Solstice A compendium of various religious observances: www.religioustolerance.org/w_solsti.htm In Deism, we mark this as a day of recognizing both the human impact of the beginning of the Earth’s next cycle of renewal, and especially to express honor and respect to all of those folks since the beginning of humankind who have furthered Sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics, and Agriculture. |
You got me curious about this. I had always “heard” that eggs were supposed to balance on either the solstices or the equinoxes (beginning of Spring of Autumn), one or the other. But, sad to say, there is nothing magical, nor are there any special physical forces at work which influence Egg-Balancing on any of these days.  http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/62/equinox.html www.plantea.com/equinox-egg.htm http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/egg_spin.html The good news is that one is likely to be able to balance an egg on any given day. *If* people only *try* balancing them on solstices and/or equinoxes, then they will be (apparently) confirmed in their belief that eggs on balance on those "magical" days. But by using Scientifc Method to replicate Egg-Balancing on ordinary days, we can disprove this superstition. <---- off in search of eggs |
Baby's Last Christmas
OK I had to look these up: 
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Thanks for looking it up and posting... I had wondered about it & had no idea. Not a big Beck fan, but I have to admit that's doggone funny. 
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 And Warm Winter Solstice Wishes to you and yours on this special day! |
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December 25 is/was also the feast day of the Roman god Sol Invictus. His feast day co-incides with the winter solstice as the sun is "reborn" and the days begin slowly to lenthen again. This date was selected as the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus after Rome went Christian. The emperor decided to keep the calendar intact and switch which god to celebrate on that particular day. The only Christian holiday that is celebrated at the correct time of year is Easter because it is linked to Passover. Most astronomers agree that the star seen in the skies at Jesus birth point to Christ being born in early April. Either way Happy Solstice! A day / time that almost all religions celebrate for one reason or the other.(Chanukah,Solstice,Christmas) It's a great season to appreciate those we care about regardless of whatever faith you subscribe to. |
Amen to that!  We have just witnessed nothing less than a miracle here -- an entirely civil and even warm-hearted thread in this forum dedicated to learning about and celebrating a special day -- or holy day for some -- outside of the majority religious faith tradition. A big thank you to all of those who either actively participated in the goodwill shared here on Winter Solstice Day, and an equally big thanks to any who might have refrained from derogatory comment. The wondrous mechanism of the Universe moves forward today and with dawn's light this morning we shall have seen the passing of the longest night. No demons devoured the Sun, no virgins were sacrificed, and we have seen fellowship between several faiths. The days lengthen now, and I hereby declare our Arfcom Religious Forum Winter Solstice a grand sucess! May it be only one among many!  |