Would you believe me if I told you today is the shortest day of the year? YES! This dark cold freezing wet day is our ticket into spring my friends. SPRING. I can’t wait for the sun to grow stronger, to warm and caress us.
From Wikipedia:
The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the winter solstice usually occurs on December 21 to 23 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 20 to 23 in the Southern Hemisphere.
Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time.
Right, it is time for celebrations.
I would like to introduce you to Katie Johnson, who is also celebrating Winter Solstice today. She does that in a very special way. Each day Katie publishes a photo she shoots herself. And each and every photo is a beauty, whether architecture, abstract, flowers, nature or animal. Of course I prefer nature and animals 😉
Let me show you an example:
Special huh?
Today’s photo is titled Happy Winter Solstice.
Katie Johnson is a professional photographer in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her website: Katie’s Camera Blog.
Happy Winter Solstice! Let’s celebrate this special day, made for us by nature. For free.
~Mar
Figments of a DuTchess 
All seasons at their own time….feeling that we missed out this year because there was no snow or ice to be seen in miles…at the end of 2011. But….i’m looking forward to the spring indeed..having long walks with a nice warmth of the sun upon my face, good music in my ears and all the livelyhood amongst the countryside. Seeing trees and flowers wake up again. 🙂 But first: Winter…hope there will be ice and snow (in a nice way) at the beginning of 2012.
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Since a horror winter has been predicted, perhaps the snow and ice will hit us yet. Your way to spend spring sounds very nice.
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Yeah,elke dag lichter en lichter,heb beenwarmers laten breien in boetiekje.
Winter = coming!!
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Die liggen hier ook al klaar Fleur 😉 De winter gaat inderdaad nog komen. Stay warm!
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I’m glad I saw this. So busy with work and Christmas that I forgot about winter solstice.
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With the busy madness of every day life, it is easy to forget things. Have a merry Christmas Donna, all the best for 2012 and thank you for dropping by.
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Wait, wait, wait. I forgot about your photo. I love it! What better photo for a Solstice. And gorgeous too.
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Stonehenge has twice stolen my heart – happy sigh – perhaps you would like to read Ancient Stoicism: Stonehenge 2011.
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Oh, Marion, I got chills seeing that photo I took of dogs playing (my girl is there). I ADORE That photo. It is so much fun. I need to put a post up just for that. Maybe a Silly Saturday post. 🙂 And thank you so much for your wonderful words on my photography. I truly appreciate it.
But back to the subject! Happy Solstice! So nice to find another person celebrating it also. And yes, let’s celebrate and play with abandon like in the dog play photo!
Thanks again, Marion! Truly, truly, truly. You have given me a gift. 🙂 Have a wonderful Solstice!
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You should dedicate a post especially to Sprigg, for people will love to see her! Any silly day will do 😀
And your photographs are gorgeous Katie, it is your own ‘fault’ 😛
It is so easy to forget that up there, in a galaxy far, far away 😉 things are moving and turning, exploding and re-creating, while we are busy with our tiny lives at micro-level. A globe full of special and different people, milling about on mother earth. And good ol’ earth will spin us right into the next season. Happy winter solstice!
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I should put this one up for a Silly Saturday, eh? 🙂 That’s a great idea. I’ll mention you and your blog when I do it sometime in January, I think. 🙂
I love that you mentioned the universe and how things are constantly changing out there too, while we’re down here thinking we’re so important, and yet, in the real way of things, well, it’s quite different. Mother Earth does indeed take care of us! 🙂
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I like that the days will start to get longer now. We haven’t had that bad a winter to be honest, cold – foggy, but no snow or ice. I wanted a White Christmas, but that isn’t going to happen.
I like the dog in the photo on the far left, goofy face that is actually fun to see. 😀
Much love,
Jules
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Hi Jules! That dog on the left is my girl, Sprigg (after Spriggan). She is simply the silliest, happiest, funniest dog I have ever met. If you want to see more photos, I put a post up for her a while back: http://katiescamerablog.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/my-boxer-dog-is-not-sad/
Sorry to hijack this, Marion. 🙂 Feel free to delete. 🙂
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ROFL I wouldn’t dream of it! I love it when people respond and talk on Figments 😀
Sprigg is so CUTE!!!!!! Have sent Julia a message so she is alerted to your comment.
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LOL! Yep, Sprigg is a cutie! And she LOVES everyone too. I should have her talk on your blog too. 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful Solstice! And love to talk here. 🙂
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