Happy Holidays To All !

All peoples of the northern hemisphere celebrate a winter holiday around this time of the year. Through the centuries and among cultures, it is called different things and celebrated in different ways, but all involve love, thanks, rejoicing, possibly token gift-giving, feasting, and partying. As  religions began solidifying from the stories and myths created by our ancestors, they had to incorporate the existing sky watchers' knowledge. Besides, who doesn't like a good party in the depths of winter darkness.

It isn't even really mid-winter; it is the beginning of the coldest days of the year, BUT it also marks the beginning of the "return of the sun". The days finally become a bit longer as the sunrise is a bit earlier; the darkness becomes a bit shorter. As I posted on a ministers' board on December 21, 2018 "Happy Solstice!! Whether you realize it or not, in the northern hemisphere, the sun will be getting slightly closer and rising a smidge earlier each day for the next 6 months. You'll be able to visually notice the slightly more north easterly sunrise in a few days, about Dec 25th."

Before my more scientifically minded friends begin ranting, yes I know the sun is not getting closer -- the sun kinda just sits there as the earth (and the other planets of this system) orbits it. No, the earth is not getting closer to the sun, either (yes, earth's orbit is slightly elliptical, happy perihelion in a week or so). Because of the tilt of earth on its axis, as it annually orbits the sun, the northern hemisphere begins to face the sun a little more as the southern hemisphere begins to turn away (our southern friends are celebrating their summer solstice now -- their days will begin to get a bit shorter as ours become longer). Also note the sun doesn't rise anyway (it just sits there remember). The sun becomes visible to us each morning because of the daily rotation of the earth on its axis, as earth orbits the sun through the year. 

So, the winter holidays. Though hardly an authoritative source, I found this list of December holidays with a brief description on Wikipedia. It was the first I had heard about Newtonmas. I found some the fictional and parodies quite funny, and some other groups quite informative. Hope you do too. 

Best wishes and bright blessings to you and yours. Enjoy your holiday traditions and celebrate each new day of life.