Savoring the Moment: Winter Solstice 2014
Staff | December 18, 2014 | Comment
It is almost here: the winter solstice of 2014–when the shortest day of the year turns into the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere and visa versa in the Southern Hemisphere. Like the hush of the first snow, the winter solstice occasions a moment of quiet reflection as much as anticipation of things to come. Time seems to stand still on this first official day of winter. This year, the winter solstice falls on Sunday, December 21st.
One of the best ways to celebrate, commemorate, deliberate the solstice is with a Sunset Hike, say at Peach Hill Park, located in the town of Poughkeepsie, starting at 4:00 pm — though the solstice officially starts on the dot of 6:03 pm. This treasure encompasses at least eight different natural habitats thus offering a rich assortment of flora and fauna to see. The event is free and open to the public. Happily, according to the Friends of Peach Hill, leashed dogs are allowed and bags are available near the kiosk for dogs’ stuff.
And to recite (from Lord of the Dance):
We dance ever slower as the leaves fall and spin
And the sound of the Horn is the wailing of the wind;
The Earth is wrapped in stillness and we move in a trance,
but we hold on fast to our faith in the dance.
The sun is in the south and the days lengthen fast,
And soon we’ll sing for the winter that is past,
Now we light the candles and rejoice as they burn,
and Dance the dance of the sun’s return.
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