Happy Winter Solstice!
To give a brief definition, Winter Solstice is the day when the noon sun is at its lowest altitude and we have the short day/longest night of the year. (To learn more about the science, check out this explanation from UAF:
While I’m a big fan of long summer days, I don’t revel in the short winter ones. It’s the price we pay to live here. But I shouldn’t complain. Here in Southcentral Alaska, the shortest day of the year gives us about five and a half days of daylight. But in the far north, they don’t see the sun from November to February.
Many Alaskans celebrate Winter Solstice to welcome the increasing light we gain after December 21st. Festivities can vary from an evening gathering around a friend’s firepit or woodstove, to community functions like Anchorage’s Solstice Tour of Trees, to Fairbanks’ Winter Solstice week including fireworks and artistic events. In 2020, it was just my husband and me at home. This year, I am lucky to have a small gathering with a few family members and friends.
It’s a good time to think about the past and future and be thankful for what we have. I feel gratitude for the people I love and the work I do. I’m also grateful for you all—I appreciate your joining me for this part of life’s journey!
May the coming light bring a better future. May you find peace and joy on Solstice and in the coming year.