Winter Solstice -  Yule

Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - 05:44 a.m.

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year.  It was believed the Sun stood still in the sky...then, the next day, he continued on his way, and  the days began to lengthen!

The word Solstice evolved to Middle English, from Old French from Latin solstitium, from Latin (combination of sol, the sun, and stitium, to stand still.)  

The word Yule - [Old English geōla, originally a name of a pagan feast lasting 12 days; related to Old Norse jōl, Swedish jul, Gothic jiuleis]

 

Solstice Sunrise
(watercolor)

“Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

…

If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine for all the while.”

John Denver