# Happy winter solstice SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 21, 2011, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934 "2011-12-21T08:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/1 "2011-12-21T08:42:48Z")
This year it falls on Dec. 22nd. [Here is some info from earthsky.](http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-solstice-on-december-21) What do you have planned? A day of drunkenness and debauchery? A trip to Stonehenge? Remember, sharing is caring. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/2 "2011-12-21T08:49:48Z")
Since I’m in the bottom bit of the planet, I plan to look forward to the sun not coming up at 5 am, and the sun going down before 9:30 at night. Even though I live in a temperate climate by Australian standards, I really dislike Summer. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/3 "2011-12-21T09:23:19Z")
I have to drive to town to get something notarized. Yee. Haw. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/4 "2011-12-21T09:38:27Z")
As a former resident of Alaska, THIS IS MY FAVORITE NON-HOLIDAY !!! Yay! More sun on the way! As of tomorrow … Ditto for midcoast Maine, where I now live. What to do today? 1. Avoid shopping (unlikely). 2. Drink cheap champagne? It’s possible. Most likely: Just enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/5 "2011-12-21T18:10:38Z")
This year it falls on Dec 22 for folks in the US Eastern time zone. For the other 6 timezones in the US it falls on the 21st. So we’re all celebrating today. New Yorkers have to wait until tomorrow. Neener neener! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/6 "2011-12-21T18:21:29Z")
BRING BACK THE SUN! BRING BACK THE SUN! BRING BACK THE SUN! BRING BACK THE SUN! BRING BACK THE SUN! BRING BACK THE SUN! BRING BACK THE SUN! BRING BACK THE SUN! _ahem_ It gets dark rather early here this time of year, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/7 "2011-12-21T18:48:53Z")
I’m going to spend it 35000 feet above the ground, then wishing my parents a happy anniversary at a place called Joe’s. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/8 "2011-12-21T21:33:36Z")
It’s our longest day today (22 Dec): 14 hours and 25 minutes of sunshine - although the weather’s been so overcast this summer that we may not see the sun at all today. The actual solstice doesn’t occur until 4.30 this afternoon - so in about another 8 hours’ time. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/9 "2011-12-21T23:39:52Z")
I’m in the time zone where it’s the 22nd, but it’s at 12:30 AM, which I still consider to be ‘the night of the 21st’. So, today. I haven’t left my house today, lazy me. I’m home on my winter break from college and I’ve been enjoying the chance to relax after a very busy and exhausting (but fun!) quarter abroad in Paris. My mom was baking baklava all morning and afternoon, so the house smelled amazing. We’re lighting the Hanukkah candles soon, and then my boyfriend is coming over to hang out for a while after he gets off work. A nice, lazy day. It’s also been in the mid-50s Fahrenheit here all day. Real cognitive dissonance there. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/10 "2011-12-22T00:14:45Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > What do you have planned? A day of drunkenness and debauchery? A trip to Stonehenge? Oh quit it- I live almost reasonable driving distance away from Stonehenge, and about half my friends seem to be going down there tonight. I’ve never been, apart from as a kid, and I really can’t afford to go right now. I thought a US based board would be a safe place to go to avoid mention… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/11 "2011-12-22T00:24:33Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Oh quit it- I live almost reasonable driving distance away from Stonehenge, and about half my friends seem to be going down there tonight. I’ve never been, apart from as a kid, and I really can’t afford to go right now. I thought a US based board would be a safe place to go to avoid mention… :smack: Consider it a sign. 🆒 Oh. And you’re welcome. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/12 "2011-12-22T00:29:28Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > Consider it a sign. 🆒 > > Oh. And you’re welcome. 😃 I’ll go for the summer one- it’s bloody freezing tonight. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/13 "2011-12-22T00:43:35Z")
I’m really sad this year, 'cause work schedules have made our 12-years and counting Solstice celebration impossible. We have faint hopes of getting together another time, but it won’t be tonight and with the secular holidays taking up the next two Saturdays… _sigh_ Ah, well. Guess I’ll light a few candles on the altar, bang a few measures on my djembe and wish I was at a bonfire drinking mead and waiting for this year’s batch of cough syrup to simmer to just the right consistency… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/14 "2011-12-22T00:55:42Z")
Tonight will be spent keeping Vigil, which is just about the only religious observance I still keep (I am a very, very lapsed Pagan). This consists of 1. Not sleeping until dawn. 2. Since I don’t have a fireplace, keeping at least 1 candle burning all night. 3. Baking like a madwoman. 4. Cleaning/tidying the house. 5. Drinking a metric fuckton of coffee (see #1, also I have to work in the morning) 6. Wrapping holiday presents. 7. Sporadically, while doing all of the above, reflecting on the darknesses within myself, and thinking of ways to combat them. It’s fun. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/15 "2011-12-22T02:59:37Z")
Since I work today and tomorrow and another remembrance of mine occurs on the 23rd, I’ll more than likely be going to the beach and doing devotionals on the 23rd instead. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/16 "2011-12-22T04:44:33Z")
On no-- I forgot about time zones! Aw well, I’ve already got candles burning, so I guess I’ll just hang out and think solstice thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/17 "2011-12-22T05:34:37Z")
It just occurred a few minutes ago. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/18 "2011-12-22T08:43:41Z")
Anyone else doing Vigil tonight? I got one batch of gingerbread done (from a mix - decidedly meh, but it might be better if I add more ginger and leave it in the oven longer) and the almonds are blanched, chopped, and toasted for the toffee. More to do, but I’m tireder than usual…had to walk most of the way home from work. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/19 "2011-12-22T11:12:02Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Anyone else doing Vigil tonight? > > I got one batch of gingerbread done (from a mix - decidedly meh, but it might be better if I add more ginger and leave it in the oven longer) and the almonds are blanched, chopped, and toasted for the toffee. > > More to do, but I’m tireder than usual…had to walk most of the way home from work. Are you talking soft, cakelike gingerbread, or gingerbread cookies? I have good recipes, from work, for either. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934/20 "2011-12-22T12:14:55Z")
Cakelike gingerbread, with powdered sugar dusted on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-winter-solstice-sdmb/606934.md?page=2)