Winter solstice

Christmas should be on the 26th this year. Tomorrow the day length finally increases here in UK from 7hours and 50 minutes to 7 hours and 51 minutes. The last time the day length was that long was the 17th December, and the shortest day was actually the 21st and 23rd, with the sun at its lowest (celestial point) on 22nd December. The sliding of sunrise and sunset days I don't understand but it shows there are many cycles involved in making day length.

Its quite amazing then that the ancients placed Christmas where they did - how in the world did they know that the 25/26 was the day the sun returned. I don't think it's a diss to the Christians to remind them that this festival is of great importants outside their calendar. Its a fact that the year which is governed by the cycle of the sun, which is also the most important thing which determines our weather and welfare - even today! - has certain high and low points and these have always been celebrated. Meanings have changed, but facts are facts.

Of course the return of the sun, and its birth in the heavens is exactly what we still celebrate. It is just an abstract spiritual son we look to now rather than just the physical sun. Just as at Easter we look at the coming again of the crops against the foe of winter, and now Christian countries look to the coming again of Jesus against the foe of sin and death - the resurrection.

=== 27th Jan 2010

This is wrong! I checked this up again this year (2009) and it doesn't work!! Don't know what was up with that data but day length should sinusoidally reduce to the solstice and then increase again.