As I write this, the 2012 Winter Solstice (and, perhaps, the long-anticipated End of the World) is about nine hours away. At 11:12 “Zulu” time (UTC) tomorrow (12/21; nice palindromic date), the sun passes a certain key spot in its orbit.
After that, due to the Earth’s axial tilt, the days then start getting longer! (At least for those of us in the northern hemisphere. For those in the southern hemi, tomorrow is the sorrowful day when the light begins to fade.) I’ve always liked the view that those sky dragons that have been munching on our sun have had their fill and have moved off to slumber off their repast for six months.
In any event, the days will start getting longer, and that’s cause for celebration. In commemoration of this auspicious day, I offer you this Solstice Greeting…
Happy Solstice! (all-inclusive)
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
(By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.)
It turns out that WordPress is giving me a Winter Solstice present. I got an email yesterday telling me that my Santa: Man or Woman? post had been, yes, that’s right, Freshly Pressed. Having watched many of my blogmates go through the FP Roller Coaster ride, it’ll be interesting to see what happens next! (Maybe I should try to spruce up the place before any guests arrive?)
Let me play you out with another one of my favorite Christmas carols Winter Solstice hymns.
I’ve always loved Silent Night, and back when I was playing regularly, I used to have a 20-minute jam on the 6/8 time and chord progression (typically in the key of B-flat). After noodling on it for about that time, I’d bring it home, and you’d realize you’d been listening to Silent Night for 20 minutes!
Anyway, here’s a cool version of the song. It’s from the album, A Very Special Christmas, volume 1.
∇
Logos con carne 
December 21st, 2012 at 7:25 am
Congratulations, Wyrd! Now prepare to respond to lots of comments on the post! And a very Happy Solstice to you, too!
December 21st, 2012 at 9:50 am
Thank you! We’re now several hours past the Solstice, and life continues! So have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. (Be sure to watch at least one version of A Christmas Carol or maybe even read the book free online!)
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:30 am
My favorite version is the old one with Alistair Sim. I adore that movie!
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Scrooge (1951)? Yeah, that’s kind of the one to see; the yardstick for most of the others. The Patrick Stewart version (1999) is pretty good (it’s airing on TNT in about an hour). There’s one with Walter G. Scott (1984) that isn’t bad (the one with Henry Winkler is, and it’s heavily adapted anyway). The new Disney one (voice of Jim Carey) was also pretty good, I thought.
And I have a major soft spot for the Mr. Magoo one (my first encounter with the story and a wonderful memory from childhood) as well as for Bill Murray’s Scrooged (I just like Murray).
December 23rd, 2012 at 9:37 am
I have been enjoying the unique posts and think you amuse me more than most of the ones I follow! I liked a comic in the Cleveland Plain Dealer with a big Mayan calendar on one stone and a blank one on the next, the man says, I hate to do this every 5612 years or so! (paraphrased from an over 50 brain!) And my brother told me a funny joke, a man is carving the old Mayan calendar and his friend interrupts him, saying, “Hey, come and have a drink with me…” and the engraver replies, “Sure, it won’t be the end of the world to take a break….”
December 23rd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
I’m glad I can make you laugh; that’s the whole idea! (I liked both your jokes!)
Have a great Christmas!!
December 27th, 2012 at 5:40 am
My girl Stevie Nicks ! I love this song and Stevie..as you probably noticed in my weird little bubble up the WordPress road..I’m the one on the corner, with the odd ramblings ! lol great post.
December 27th, 2012 at 10:15 am
I just sat down and logged in, so I haven’t had time to look around, but I’ll drop by as soon as I can. Anyone who is kind enough to offer so many comments deserves a close look!
Have you ever seen Nicks live? I’m old enough that when I was in college, Fleetwood Mac did a concert in the gymnasium (our theatre wasn’t big enough). We had tickets (literally sitting) on the floor, so I was about 30 feet from the band. Awesome concert, but we’d made brownies, so my memories are a little fuzzy.
December 27th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Hello 🙂 I only comment on blog sites that interest me, and your posts are very interesting..I have a few more to read yet. Yes I have seen Stevie live…I waited over 20 years and then finally she in Hyde Park in London for Hard rock calling summer 2011..I was at the front ( and it was open air and a very hot day) but she was there in front of me and I sobbed when she sang Landslide..she silenced the place. ven in her sixties, she still twirls, sing sings like a goddess and still is beautiful..she is my fan girl crush ! lol ..she writes the songs of my life and seen me through some dark times.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Well, thank you; it’s always nice when someone else finds you interesting!
I’m of an age when Fleetwood Mac and other bands of that era did write the music of my life. For me the tune with direct personal connections is “Over my Head.”
You might like this story: a good friend of mine, her boyfriend was a heating/air-conditioning repairman. He goes to a job in Hollywood one day and who answers the door, but Stevie Nicks! Living in Los Angeles has some interesting byproducts! You’d be standing in a bank teller line and suddenly realize you’re standing behind Isaac Hayes (that happened to my dad).
December 28th, 2012 at 4:49 am
Wow ! That’s fascinating…I need to vist L.A. you still live there.?
December 28th, 2012 at 10:02 am
No, not since 1984. Minnesota now. And celebrity sighted do still occur… I saw Raymond Burr once walking through the Minneapolis airport! (And I did follow him to his gate so I could introduce myself, shake his hand and thank him for all those years of Perry Mason (whom I love) and Ironsides!)
December 27th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Are you familiar with St. Lucia Day in Scandinavia (and many other countries now, it seems)? I’ll ask people next year “what are you doing for St. Lucia’s? 🙂
Something for your Science Smythies here?
http://lpod.wikispaces.com/2012
December 27th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
I’ve heard the name in passing (probably in movies). I’ve seen pictures of women (and men) with crowns of candles, but I’m not sure if that was associated with St. Lucia Day.
Liking the link!! 😎
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