"I'm not an X, but..."

I'm not a Pagan, but I always rejoice when the Winter Solstice comes around. For me it is in some ways more important than Christmas, which, given my rather unique familial situation, is not something I tend to spend much time celebrating.

The Solstice though is important because it's psychological. For the uninitiated, it's also known as 'the shortest day', and this year is Saturday 22nd December. From that day on the days begin to become longer. It is like the turning of a great tide that had slowly been eroding all the brightness of life. From there on in, rather than noticing that the windows are pitch black at four fifty-eight rather than five o'clock, it's noticing that they are pitch black at five o'clock rather than four fifty-eight. It's the memory of summer, and the reminder that those days are inevitable, will return, and most importantly, are on their way.

Sure, in six months time the tide will turn again under the inescapable laws of astrophysics, but for those who feel the darkness at the door, this is as bad as it gets. The light in summer doesn't get to last forever, but then neither does the night now in winter: all things balance - a sensible lesson perhaps, and the closest I think I'll get to politics in this disturbingly New Ageish post.

If you are sensitive to these things by mood, I suppose it's a bit like getting three for the price of two in December. First the season turns, then Christmas (which always has good telly - David Tennant and Kylie Minogue, what more could you ask for!), then New Year. What greater symbolic break and celebration of renewal can there be than the start of a whole new year? Will you be making resolutions? I might, but generally I just take the chance to look back on twelve months that are by their nature a significant chunk of a life, and to think about the twelve months ahead.