Solstice DaybreakToday is Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of winter.
Frosty GardenThe sun is at it's lowest point in the sky and for a few days appears to remain in the same place before it begins to climb and the hours of daylight start to increase once more. The word solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium which translates as 'sun standing still' - sol means sun and the verb sistere means to stand still. It is the great winter festival marking the rebirth of the sun and the twelve days of Yule beginning on December 25th were days of feasting celebrating this. We move into the long, slow, restful days of winter now - I wish you all health and happiness as the circle of the year begins once more.
Solstice Sunrise
I love the frosty view of your winter garden.Have you had the nasty foggy weather that I have been hearing about, where you are..?
ReplyDeleteWishing you a Yule Tidings to you and Your Family.
ReplyDeleteThe fog is in the south east around Heathrow Sheila - we are in the North Midlands and have had a beautiful bright,frosty day with sunshine and blue skies. A perfect winter day in fact.
ReplyDeleteRowan! These photos are Great! I so love Winter! I'm snowed in here in Colorado.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful post. The photos are are lovely but I especially like the last one. It has a mystical quality about it.
ReplyDeleteRowan.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me of Winter solstice. I think it starts just after midnight tonight (22nd Dec.)?
Your pics a beautiful..I enjoyed the frosty garden one the best.
Merry Christmas my dear friend, to you and all your family. And a happy New Year too.
As Charles Dickens might say: God bless us..every-one.
rel
Happy Solstice. We've had a beautiful sunny day here, so it didn't feel much like the darkest day of the year.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful, as always.
ReplyDeleteSending you a solstice {{hug}},
Jeanne
Lovely frosty pictures!
ReplyDeleteA very happy Christmas to you and yours, Rowan.
Merry Christmas Rowan! We're foggy in N Warks, but I like it! I just wanted to ask if you saw "A Tudor Feast" last night?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, have a blessed Christmas ...or a cool Yule.
It's been beautifully clear here - no fog or anything. Just sunny and cold! I feel for the poor people stuck at Heathrow though.
ReplyDeleteIt's our 6 month anniversary too - I can't believe how quickly it has gone, married life is flying by!
What a lovely view of the winter solstice where you are.It looks quite magical. Such meaningful photos. Wishing you a Happy Christmas and peaceful holiday season.
ReplyDeleteI never knew the meaning of the word solstice so this is a very interesting post. My daughter was born on this day - the darkest day of the year - and she is such a bright spot in my life. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful pictures, Rowan! Happy Winter to you and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteKelli
If you can't have a White Christmas, then a good frosty one would do!! I love the wreath you made its gorgeous, you are right there are lots of berries on the holly. Does that mean a hard winter????
ReplyDeleteLovely frosty pictures. I love the meaning behind all the Soltices.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful and Merry Christmas and the best New Year, Rowan!
tea
xo
Rowan, I loved your photos of the solstice sunrise and your garden of frost - the winter solstice is one of my favorite moments in the whole turning year, a brief interval of stillness when the world stands quietly and then begins to move back along the wheel in the opposite direction ,heralding longer days and more sunlight. Belated solstice blessings to you, my friend. Cate
ReplyDeletevery beautiful pictures. what a lovely blog you have.
ReplyDeleteRowan,
ReplyDeleteBlessings of the season to you and your wonderful family.
Your friendship is a gift I treasure!
rel
What lovely Solstice photos . . . it's so wonderful to see the same sun returning there, as it is here. Thank you for visiting my blog too -- we have a mutual friend in Cate! I'm looking forward to visiting your blog more often.
ReplyDeleteBlessings of the New Year to you!