Beautiful.
Yeah, thanks. 
I guess I just stumbled on the “observer” part, because to me, that means an observer that’s on the surface of the earth. And when it’s dark, you can’t see where the sun is.
Just the technicality part of me showing, I guess. 
Well, I care. . . a LOT. I’ve been counting down the days until the days start getting longer. Who cares about Christmas?! I just want more daylight back (as I sit under a sunlamp). And now I have one less day to count down (since I’m in the West). Happy day! 
So yeah, while you’re out there looking for a life, could you find one for me too, please? 
That one got to me too. And I’m not usually a sap for those things.
In certain contexts (including the instance that prompted your question), yes.
Fortunately, it turns out that this happens anyway.
Do you think it happens all by itself? Those rituals are why the sun returns every year. Watch out though, I’m considering delaying it a few days each year to combat global warming.
You’re welcome. 
Even better. It’s too damn cold out to dance around a fire naked and sacrifice a chicken. If the days start getting longer without me having to go through all of *that *again, that’s all I could ask for.
Oh please! As if we would dance around a fire naked. Are you crazy?! It’s fricking *cold *out there, man! Naked dancing is reserved for summer months only.
And the chicken usually comes from KFC.
Sacrifice a chicken? What are these…the dark ages?
If you want summer to come back you have to sacrifice a duck. I thought everyone knew that.
Shows what I know. Chickens have always done the trick before…
For the sake of us all - never, never!, sacrifice a Turducken. Just trust me on this.
Damn it, now you’ve got me curious. I’ve just got to try it…what is that purple vortex doing in the sky?
Seriously, you people are all so wrong. You sacrifice a goat. (There’s this guy just north of Potosi you can get it from…) Then you butcher it and grill it up on the Weber. Goat chunks on a stick and beers for everyone! It keeps the neighbors wondering and never results in any airborne, purple vortices threatening life, the universe and everything.
Seems to me it should most properly be “anally retentive,” but that’s just me.
Actually, the timing of Solstice this year couldn’t be more favorable for us Left Coasters to help out with the Global Orgasm for Peace. Ten PM on Friday night? I’d damned well BETTER be getting my O on!
Also, for those with iGoogle home pages, there’s a neat little widget that tells you the exact phase of the moon, updated to the minute. That’s darned handy, I’ll tell ya what! There’s a reason why pagans and computers tend to go together…
Sounds like a Chicago Cubs cook-out.
Shhhhhhh! Everyone will want to come!
Nope, it’s weird and unruly and Not Of The Lord! Crazy people! Weirdos! Liberals at the gate! Don’t drink the mead, it will pollute your precious bodily fluids! 
sigh
Too dry, shoulda added: .
Listen to WhyNot, she knows what she’s talking about. Ship the mead to me and I’ll run it through an organic filter (aka “kidneys”) and return the purified fluid. Or, for a slight fee, I’ll dispose of the fluid for you.
Not to rain on anyone’s parade but the days will not start getting longer until Dec 27 (at least at my lat (34 deg 42’)).
The sun will continue to rise later in the morning (bringing more winter/dark doldrums), unitl about Jan 15 (it rises at the same time 12/31 - 1/14).
Sorry.
Perihelion will be on January the third, shortly after three PM Eastern Standard Time (That’s Eight Pm, or 20:00 UT), if anyone cares. I set an alarm on my phone/clock/calendar. Of course, no one celebrates Perihelion.
TrisWell fiddlesticks. Time to get another chicken, I reckon. What the fuck good is a winter solstice if it doesn’t make the days start getting longer?
On the bright side, I took the 26th, 27th, and 28th off. Combine that with the 31st and January 1st that I already get off, and that makes up for the shitty winter solstice and its not-any-longer-days-until-the-27th ass. 11 beauteous days of…nothing.