Winter Solstice

Today, the 21^st of December, is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which means that the sun will set at its farthest southern point and will slowly begin moving back to the north. To ancient observers, when the sun changed from setting in the south to setting in the north, it seemed to sit still, at its southern point, which is where we get the the word solstice. The winter solstice, in the Germanic world, used to be called Jul, which is now used as the word for Christmas. As I have already written, these two holidays were combined during the Christianization of Northern Europe. Nevertheless, Winter Solstice also means that today is the shortest day of the year. This morning, the sun rose at 8:38 AM, and this afternoon it will set at 3:38 PM, meaning we have less than seven hours of full daylight. This may seem depressing, but Winter Solstice also means that the days are finally going to get longer. By the time I leave Denmark in May, the sun will rise at 4:47 AM, and will set at 9:16 PM, meaning we will have more than 16 hours of day, which is double what we get right now. I am glad that it is going to get lighter outside, and cannot wait to see the sun again. For now however, I have become oddly accustomed to the idea that early mornings and late afternoons are supposed to be dark, and that all important outdoor activities must be completed by three.