The solstice is upon us

Today we in Australia will experience the summer solstice – specifically, Saturday, 21 Dec 2024, 7:20 pm (approx) in Brisbane. It will be the longest day, with daylight for 13 hours and 41 minutes. At round about the same time, Europe will be enduring the winter solstice. London’s daylight hours will be 7 hours 49 minutes. It’s interesting doing a comparison. At the summer solstice, London will have 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight. At our Brisbane winter solstice we’ll have 10 hours and 42 minutes of daylight. The closer you are to the equator the smaller the difference between the length of day at the solstices. And, of course, at the poles the difference is the largest, hence the Midnight Sun.

Christmas, or Yule, is very much a Northern Hemisphere celebration centering on the winter solstice, with many of its traditions originating in pagan times when it was all about the return of the sun after a hard, cold winter with its short, dark days. Witness Christmas songs longing for a white Christmas or rushing through the snow in a sleigh. Oh what fun.

And that brings me to a bit of family history.

When we were packing up my late sister’s belongings after her death earlier this year I came across the little wood sculpture above. It made me smile and brought back some memories.

Back in the late 70s there was a Norwegian shop in one of Perth’s many arcades. It showcased lots of different goods from Norway, including beautifully carved figures like this one. My mum was diagnosed with inoperable bowel cancer around 1980 and like most people, I didn’t know what I could do to help. So I bought that little figure for her. It sat on her bedside table until she died.

After her death, my sister and I dealt with her belongings. Her furniture and household goods went to my brother but we took a few personal items. My sister wanted the little Norwegian skier, so it went with her when she moved to Victoria, where I found it in her house. It’s now around forty-five years old and it still makes me smile. No doubt it will pass to someone else when I shuffle off. For now, it sits on my desk.

Christmas – or whatever you celebrate instead – is nearly upon us. I’ll be watching my favourite Christmas movie, Hogfather, and apart from that it will be a quiet day for the two of us. I did buy myself a small Christmas gift – the Discworld calendar for 2025. Apart from that, we’re looking forward to renovation magic in the New Year. Maybe even a holiday or two.

Oh – if you need a last minute gift, take a look at Pets in Space 9. There’s a story for everyone.

I hope your celebration offers everything you hold dear and that you keep safe and healthy.

Here’s cheers!