Should the winter solstice be moved to a different date?

[purplepoppy]

Yesterday was the winter solstice and many people made their way to their local stone circle to watch the sun rise, eat mushrooms, and drink mead. The problem is sunrise is at silly o' clock in the morning and let's be honest it's far too close to Christmas.

So should the winter solstice be moved to a more sensible date?

[Tarifa]

Christmas and the winter solstice are actually closely linked. This is what an internet search shows, it sums it up better than I remember it.

Christmas originates from early Christian celebrations of Jesus' birth, intentionally set on December 25th in the 4th century to align with and co-opt existing pagan winter solstice festivals like the Roman Saturnalia and the feast of Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun) to attract converts, incorporating pagan traditions such as feasting, greenery, and gift-giving into the Christian holiday. The name comes from "Christ's Mass" (Middle English Cristes mæsse), celebrating Jesus' birth, though the Bible doesn't mention the date, making its origin a blend of Christian faith and ancient winter solstice customs.

[pierre7i]

21 December is the summer solstice where I'm from @purplepoppy -- New Zealand !

And even though it was the 'winter' solstice yesterday here in Thailand where I currently work+live, the sun set at 17:54, it was totally dark around 18:12 (not the overture! 🙂)

I think winter's kind of brutal in Wales, England, Scotland and many European countries !

[purplepoppy]

It's only harsh on high ground. Wales and Scotland is actually quite mild in the winter along the west coast. West of Ireland is almost tropical

[jenna815]

No, it comes at a logical place in the pagan wheel, you'd have to readjust the whole calendar

[Anonymous]

Should Christmas be moved back to the winter solstice?

[AviatorTom]

How about moving it to the official UK Monarch's birthday, which also has nothing to do with reality. One celebration for all. Fewer days of from work, less to clean up, cheaper for the government to pay for security.

What a Great Idea! 😀

[ohsheeT]

It has to be done at this time of year. Because of the cold Taking the shrooms sitting still breathing out
it's the words that form from your cold breath ice crystal messages.

Or wait that's stonehenge to raise the frequency to raise the rocks. Sorry got my shroom days mixed up

[exitseven]

Yes, it's too damn cold out to ha e a pig roast.

[FreyaRed]

Yes, we need to teleport earth to another part of orbit around sun.

[NathanDavis]

let's end daylight savings instead...

[RavVid]

I think so. You are not touching my Southern summer solstice. It's gold. I think Christmas should be shifted a month so my solstice harvest festivals are even more popular.

Very happy to shift my southern winter solstice because it is just too cold and wet. I think move to the autumn equinox. There is still a chance of good beach weather then

[andreasderjuengere]

Mushrooms and mead can be available all year through.
If some people decide to consume it only at a specific time of year... it's up to them.
But then: when outdoors activities are limited due to climate facts, any distraction until late spring may be helpful to overcome one's lack of other sensations.

[Alex-Snow]

I like the pic. Ummm eating schrooms and drinking mead... not a bad idea on a short day!

[OneViewpoint]

Good luck changing the wobble of the Earth to accommodate your sleep routine. I'd love to see your ideas for altering celestial mechanics.

[Subgurl]

No, winter solstice falls on the shortest day/longest night of the year, if you chose a different day than it’s not the winter solstice anymore.

[FunkyMonkee]

Exactly how do you plan to do that? You'd have to move the entire planet in it's procession around the Sun.

[Anonymous]

No, because Winter Solstice is natural holiday, whilst Christmas is a religious holiday.

If Jesus even existed, he was most likely born in the end of February, or early March, so they should move Christmas.

[AngryCarl2]

Is that the shortest day of the year? I think we already had that, although there's still another week to go, so who knows?

[Kelly6]

@purplepoppy

How can you change the time of Sun? Lol

[Staximus]

You can't change the time of the sun you turkey

[Pohjolan]

Nah you'd have to move the rest of the days as winter solstice is determined by physics.

[Twalli]

If I had my way I'd never have a winter solstice. I'd move every equinox.

[Jltakk]

To be honest, I don't even know what most of this means, but as long as folks are having fun I guess

[nolabels]

Lol.

Good luck with that.

[Shiprex]

No that wouldn't be solstice then

[loveslongnails]

Yes, move it to June 1st

[CubaPirate]

Nope don't mess with the natural world