by Wendy Worrall Redal | December 21st, 2009 | No Comments topic: Eco Travel, Green Living "Arise, shine, for your light has come!" These words from Handel's Messiah resonate with meaning for me at Christmas. My own celebration is likewise enriched by the multitude of traditions around the world that honor the return of light to the world during the darkest days of the year.
This year's Winter Solstice (the moment when our side of the earth is farthest from the sun) on December 21 holds a special treat: a full moon. To celebrate the solstice and take advantage of this rare lunar event, bundle up and enjoy a guided moonlit foray into nature, or plan your own with a group of friends, capped off with hot chocolate or holiday wassail by candlelight at someone's cozy home.
Early nightfall. Crisp mornings. The sharp silhouette of leaf-bare branches. Orion marching across the evening sky. These are some familiar signs of winter. We often speak of turning inward during these darker months, becoming quiet and introspective, staying home more often, sleeping longer.
The December solstice is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The day has astronomical, cultural and religious significance.
