HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-12-24, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2009. PAGE 23. Thanks in large part to all theholiday hullabaloo, it’s easy tooverlook the official arrival ofwinter.This year winter began on Dec.21. While you might know thewinter soltstice brings cold weather,
the following can teach you more
about the arrival of the year’s coldest
season.
What is winter solstice?
Winter solstice is when the
hemisphere is leaning farthest away
from the sun. That’s why daylight is
the shortest this day.
What causes seasons?
They are caused by the rotation of
the earth. Earth is tilted away from
the sun during the northern
hemisphere’s winter, which is why
the days are shorter.
What was the Roman festival of
Saturnalia?
A festival that honoured winter
solstice where servants ate with theirmasters. Schools were closed,prisoners were not executed andpeople paraded around the streetswith black faces or masks.What tradition came from theScandinavians’ winter solstice
festival called Jiuleis?
The burning of the Yule log. Norse
men would burn the log to repel dark
and cold. The wood was thought to
bring good luck to each home.
What ancient ruin was built to
honour the solstice?
Newgrange in eastern Ireland was
built to honour the solstice. It is one
acre and has a 60 foot entranceway.
It dates back to 3,300 BCE, making
it one of the oldest structures in the
world.
What custom involves giving
presents?
Romans gave their children
earthenware (sigillaria), rings and
seals to celebrate Sigillaria.When it’s winter solstice in thenorthern hemisphere, what ishappening in the southernhemisphere?They are celebrating the summersolstice. At that time, night is at its
shortest and daytime is at its longest.
What does the word solstice
mean?
It comes from two Latin words --
“sol,” which means sun, and
“sistere,” which means to cause to
stand still.
How did the ancient Greeks
observe the winter solstice?
Their winter solstice ritual was
called Lenaea, the Festival of the
Wild Women. A man representing
the harvest God Dionysos was torn
to pieces and eaten by a gang of
women.
Then, Dionysos was reborn as a
baby. By classical times, the human
sacrifice was replaced by the killingof a goat and the women becamefuneral mourners and watchers ofthe birth.The winter solstice in 1999 wasunique. Why?That year the solstice, full moon and lunar perigee happened on thesame date. (Perigee means that themoon’s orbit is closest to earth).Here, the moon was full and at itsmaximum size. The last time that something likethis happened was 1866.
Rough night for Santa
After a brief, but rough, stint in the NHL and an exhibition game played with Wayne Greatskate,
Santa (Damon Mason) returned to the North Pole a broken man, with a black eye and a leg
cast in the Brussels Public School production of Slapshot Santa on Dec. 8. Helping to cheer
him on were, from left: Brooklyn Mitchell, Jessica Holthuysen, Jessica Clark, Mason, Amanda
Morrison, Olivia Johnston, Dana Dolmage and Candace Burnham. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Solstice facts for the winter enthusiasts
Let the Christmas spirit
light up your home this
Holiday season.
Paul, Karen,
Amy, Levi, Sean, Ellen, Sarah & Rachel
Thank you for your patronage!
PAUL COOK ELECTRIC
519-357-1537
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DAVE WILSON. FRONT ROW: JIM SILLS, HEATHER ZAPPLE.
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The gift of your patronage throughout 2009, wrapped
in kindness, is the one we appreciate most.
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Wishing you and your family
an abundance of glad tidings
at this special time of year.
Merry Christmas
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Bob Wattam's
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With warm wishes
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at
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to Jo-Ann’s
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Brussels
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