2023 Life Logs, Day 354: On Solstice Eve
Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 41, Low 31 F; Sunset 4:16 pm (+/-0)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
I love the holiday season, but I think the day of winter solstice is my very favorite day of the year because it marks the reversal of the gradual waning of daylight hours. Starting tomorrow night, one minute at a time, our daylight hours begin to grow until summer solstice. The magic hour is 10:27 pm EST tomorrow night. I will be at the Goldstones as Heather and Jed are having a solstice open house to celebrate the occasion. Then on Friday we make our annual trek to Cambridge to attend the Christmas Revels and officially “Welcome Yule.” We join people from throughout the ages to mark the occasion of the world’s oldest winter celebration.
Today I wrapped more presents, did a little getting ready for the Christmas weekend trip to Maine, made gingerbread cookies and chocolate kiss cookies with Ollie (with a little help from Jonah), took Jonah and Sam downtown to do a little last-minute shopping, and then came home and collapsed. Hopefully I can get packed tomorrow, do the last bits of package wrapping, and then head out for the night of winter celebration. The weather gods must have gotten the message as it is going to be wintry cold tomorrow night. We have a winter gale warning in effect from midnight tonight through tomorrow evening. Those strong north winds will make for an appropriately chilly evening.