BLOGMAS, Winter Solstice! 

Hello lovelies, 

Now December is a month were lots of different celebrations and different events happen all around the world. So many which I’ve only just learnt about myself but today marks a very special day, Winter Solstice & Burning Of The Clocks. 

So I’ve put together some facts which I’ve found online, some facts which I knew myself and wrote them below. So here we go;

What Exactly Is The Winter Solstice?

The December solstice happens at the same instant for all of us, everywhere on Earth. This year the solstice occurs today, Wednesday December 21st at 10:44 GMT (Universal time). No matter where you live on Earth’s globe, a solstice is your signal to celebrate. It’s when the sun on our sky’s dome reaches its farthest southward point for the year. At this solstice, the Northern Hemisphere has its shortest day and longest night of the year.

The shortest day of the year lasts for 7 hours 49 minutes and 41 seconds in Britain. As such, Tuesday December 20th was the longest night of the year with the sun not rising until 08:04 GMT on Wednesday morning. The day after the winter solstice marks the beginning of lengthening days, leading up to the summer solstice in June.

 The earliest people on Earth knew that the sun’s path across the sky, the length of daylight, and the location of the sunrise and sunset all shifted in a regular way throughout the year. They built monuments such as Stonehenge in England – or, for example, at Machu Picchu in Peru – to follow the sun’s yearly progress

The solstice may have been a special moment of the annual cycle for some cultures even during neolithic times. Astronomical events were often used to guide activities such as the mating of animals, the sowing of crops and the monitoring of winter reserves of food. Many cultural mythologies and traditions are derived from this.

What Exactlt Is The Burning Of The Clocks?

For two decades, Burning the Clocks has become a special date in Brighton’s calendar. Taking place on the winter solstice, this fantastical procession brings magic to the streets, with a stream of luminous lanterns and a spectacular 2,000-strong parade.

Held on the shortest day (longest night) of the year, this tradition marks the passing of time by ‘burning the clocks’ and welcoming in the new sun. With over 20,000 spectators, this popular event turns the spotlight away from the more commercial side of Christmas and lights up the darkest of winter nights.

Burning the Clocks was created by Same Sky in 1994 as a way for the whole community to enjoy the festive season, regardless of faith or creed. Each year a new theme, related to the concept of time, is incorporated into the event to bring new and exciting elements.

This is another short and sweet one today, but I wanted to share with you some facts about the celebrations which are going on world wide today and in the city I live in, Brighton. 

If you didn’t have a clue about the celebrations which are going on today, I really hope this helped give you some idea of what’s going on and enjoyed today’s post. 

Sending you all tons of love as always, 

Elle xo 

For any business enquiries, please email me at: ellegracedeveson@outlook.com