Every December, I write a piece observing the winter solstice, that time of year when daylight hits rock bottom in the Northern hemisphere, and the days get longer. The theme, always, is that of hope. The sun will return. Some years, that can be a challenge, but I usually manage. Here are the ones dating back to 2002.
Solstice 2002: What Do You Call It When the Sunset Comes Before the Sunrise?
Solstice 2003: All the Rest Have 31 Except February
Solstice 2005: The Christmas Truce
Solstice 2006: A Glint in the Southern Daybreak
Solstice 2007: The Sunrise of 1945
Solstice 2008: Leaving the Cookies Out
Solstice 2009: The Caking on the Ice
Solstice 2010: Is There Anybody Out There, Please?
Solstice 2011: Dies Natalis Invicti Solis
Solstice 2012: A Darkness from Within
Solstice 2013: But It’s A Nice Mess To Have!
Solstice 2014: The Fimbulwinter of our Discontent
Solstice 2015: The New Normals
Solstice 2016: Hope in a Hopeless World
Solstice 2018: Happy Yalda Night!
Solstice 2020: Hope Always Rises the Next Morning
Solstice 2021: Wisdom and Betrayal, Friggin’ in the Riggin’
Solstice 2022: (Dōngzhì dà rú nián) In China, “the winter solstice is as big as the new year.”
Solstice 2023: “Green, green, it’s green they say, On the far side of the hill…”