Longest Night of the Year

This time of the year is known by many names with dozens of different celebrations from a great many different countries and cultures.
The longest night of the year marks many of these celebrations and has its own host of names, Yule, the Winter Solstice, Solar New Year, Midwinter, and Winter Solace
On this night of Winter Solstice, as seen from a northern sky, the three stars in Orion's belt align with the brightest star in the Eastern sky, Sirius to show where the sun will rise in the morning after Winter Solstice. The sun will ceased to decline in the sky as the length of daylight reaches its minimum and after three days, the sun will begin its ascent and the days grow longer. A return to light, a rebirth.




As a nod to my own celtic heritage, on this shortest day and longest night, the 21st of December, the Celts would celebrate at the winter solstice the return of the light and its growing strength. Just as nature lies dormant it is a time for us to pause and reflect, for without darkness we cannot appreciate the return of light and the return of spring.

it all sounds very romantic, as long as you're not out in the cold and snow somewhere freezing on the longest night of the year! So here I sit, on the longest night, on call to the hospital . . . here's hoping I can observe the night here at home.

Happy Yuletide! Merry Midwinter!