60 days till the 21st December!

And what is so special about the 21st? It is the 24th that concerns me, and I know how soon it will be here.

I do realise that the 21st is the winter solstice, but I love the short days and dark evenings of winter, and I am really looking forward to this coming Sunday when the clocks will be back to winter time.

No thanks - dark by 3pm and not light until after 8am here in the North East.

Roll on Spring!

I am the opposite, I really dislike it getting dark at 4 pm, the long never ending dark nights. Not for me, it makes me sad. 😞

It's the dark mornings I dislike more now. I hate the alarm clock going off while it's still dark. Seriously thinking of getting one of those daylight wake-up lamps but they have very mixed reviews.

Now that we can usually arrange to be in by the late afternoon there can be something comfortable about drawing the curtains and making a cup of tea at 4 o'clock.

I love Autumn and Winter, especially October to Christmas. The dark nights do not bother me, I light my candles, and everything feels right for me. I never have this feeling of calm in the Summer.
The above said I do like the seasons.

No! Can't think of bloomin Xmas too much happening inbetween, twin daughters birthdays on Halloween and a big family party to organise at mine with a Halloween theme, more for the GCs than my daughters. Then is OHs birthday, my SiLs which is his 40th, and friends coming to stay in November.
Can we please do Xmas every two years xx

rafichagran

I love Autumn and Winter, especially October to Christmas. The dark nights do not bother me, I light my candles, and everything feels right for me. I never have this feeling of calm in the Summer.
The above said I do like the seasons.

I am with you all the way. As the evenings draw in and there is a bite in the air I add another layer and my heart sings. As for December 21st. Each to their own, and I am sticking to Christmas.

Then, of course, there is also St Lucia's feast day on 13th December when many Scandinavian countries have their festival of light. I do not know a lot about it, but under the Julian calandar, the winter solstice would have happened on 13th December, so when the change from Julian to Gregorian calendars occurred, in the mid 18th century, while the date of the solstice moved to 21 December, the Scandinavian's continued to celibrate their feast of light on 13 December.

I suspect that the name of the saint said to be celebrated in 13th December is the christianising of a pagan feast of light - the name 'Lucy' means 'light'.

Mind you, in Roman times, the solstice was celebrated on the 25th December.

So you have a choice, you can celebrate the 13, 21 or 25th December, all of them have been or are winter solstice dates. If the pagans can clebrate the solstice, why shouldn't, Christians, Jews, Muslims or any other religion, all seem to have big festivals around the solstice.

I crave light and the solstice is always welcome, even though it takes ages for the sun to get into gear and return. I am not a child of the dark.

I’m learning to embrace all the seasons as I’m older. Each is special in its own way.

I like “there’s no such thing as bad weather only inappropriate clothing”.

I hate being cold. So layers it is, the world will turn and in time, spring will come around again. In the meantime I cosy down, light the lamps, enjoy mulled wine in December and count my blessings.

I do embrace the seasons and do things like candles etc, traditions like Christmas, and all the other wintery stuff, but always find myself gravitating to the conservatory on cold bright days - I somehow need light. I don’t get depressed or stuff, but am definitely someone who loves the light. It doesn’t have to be hot - just light.

With you there Whitewave.
I’m just trying to be a bit more positive in my outlook! 🤣

Yes, I look forward to December 21, one of my favourite days of the year whilst December 25 is not. I also look forward to January 1, the start of a new year when who knows what good things might happen. Just got to get through usually dreary November, my least liked month.

I love the short days of winter, somehow they suit my temperament. In summer I feel twitchy and unsettled. But I know I’m in the minority so try hard not to begrudge anybody their days in the sun.

I loathe the clocks changing! You've just reminded me to get out a bit more before they do.

Loathe the dark, loathe winter. Give me daylight, but I don't care about temperatures as long as it's bright. December 21st marks the return of the light even though it's measured in seconds to begin with. It's when my hope returns.

It doesn't bother me so much now I'm retired but I hated going to work in the dark and coming home in it. Never seemed to see daylight at all. Where I live on the west coast of Lancashire our window faces the Irish Sea. I see the sun setting and when it gets to December 21st it's at the most southerly point (shortest day) and I know it will be moving north every day until June 22nd. Then it will be the longest day.

My birthday is 21st December, I’ve always felt cheated being born on the shortest day!

Rosie51

Loathe the dark, loathe winter. Give me daylight, but I don't care about temperatures as long as it's bright. December 21st marks the return of the light even though it's measured in seconds to begin with. It's when my hope returns.

Yes, Rosie. Hope in short supply at the moment.

It's a bright, sunny day today - make the most of it before the rain returns tomorrow 🌞

Whitewavemark2

I do embrace the seasons and do things like candles etc, traditions like Christmas, and all the other wintery stuff, but always find myself gravitating to the conservatory on cold bright days - I somehow need light. I don’t get depressed or stuff, but am definitely someone who loves the light. It doesn’t have to be hot - just light.

Me too, and I've resisted getting a solid roof on there too in case it males the conservatory darker.

Makes, makes, makes !

Our GC anticipate with shoes outside on December 5th.

I certainly don't overheat when walking dogs in the fall/winter, however we've 8 lamps in 50' long open area from kitchen, sitting, to playroom.

Not a nice time of year, in my opinion - bring on late January.

I always find January the most depressing month followed by February. Then start to feel hopeful in March for a nice spring and enjoy the first bulbs, but it’s wishing my life away.
I definitely need natural light, and always choose a window to sit near if out in a cafe pub or restaurant.