Today, 22nd December, at 4.49 GMT, it will be the shortest day & the longest night of the year, and so at that precise time in the northern hemisphere, the sun will appear to stand still. Our ancient ancestors celebrated this time with bonfires and stories, and probably many a glass of sweet ale because from this day onwards the days would be lengthening and the natural world in which they lived would begin to grow and flourish again.
So, in a similar fashion, today I will raise one or more celebratory glasses to the sun, and just like our ancestors, I will welcome the return of the light into our lives. It would be good if you also joined in this celebration…………..good Yule to you all!
A Different View 
Muy hermoso!
Thank you Barbara. It is a great time for looking forward.
I like what you’ve written, and I’m sure you feel this way in 2018. It’s good to see anyone who celebrates the Winter Solstice and who understands its importance. I think most people today don’t understand the value of trees or the workings of nature, such as the sun-earth relationship.
Indeed! So true!
Would you, please, consider displaying one of your hokku verses on my collection site, Hokku – Old & New? It is primarily a collection of classic verses, but I also have some of David’s verses on there. I am a novice at the art, but I decided to display a couple of mine (even though they are of poor quality), simply because I don’t know of anyone else who writes hokku. If you choose not to I will understand and will not bother you about it again, but if you choose to do it, then just email it to me at emleathers@gmail.com or click “Contact” at the top of my home page. Thanks, Ashley.
Very interesting point about the sun seeming to stand still, Ashley! Yes, I, too, believe much more importance has been associated with the Solstice in times past. But there is so much to be said for regularity – in all its facets! 😆🌞
We’re almost at the Solstice this year (21st Dec). Yes! The regularity of the seasons, but even they are changing! Everything is moving down to the smallest particles (I think they’re called quarks); layer upon layer moving at different speeds………….! Thank you for your comments. 🌹🎋🙋♂️