We have eight days or so to the shortest day in the year. December 21/22 is usually messed up by people looking for the sunrise in Newgrange (good luck to them), but the plus point about it is that it’s the turning point of the winter. It may get colder for parts of January and February, but the most important thing about it is that it signifies that the days are getting longer again.
I value that day a lot. The darkness kills me and it’s the key reason I chose not to move to Finland in 1999 when I had the chance.
Treasa, if its any consolation (and it is to me at least) yesterday (12th Dec) was the day that the sun sets earliest in the year.The 21st is still the shortest day but that darkness is all due to the sun rising later – it would seem to rise later each morning until around the 5th January. If Christmas day is any way bright you will notice the sun setting later – maybe about 10 minutes later than now.
It gives hope….
Yes, that makes a whole lot of difference. I find it difficult to believe how fast the winter drew in this year.