December Summer Solstice 2012
Southern Hemisphere
21 Dec 2012 11:12 (UTC)
Local Times for December Solstice worldwide
The December solstice is also known
as the "summer solstice"
in the southern hemisphere. It is
the winter solstice only in the northern hemisphere.
The end of the world in 2012?
Many prophecies about the end of the
world surround this date because it corresponds to the last day of the Mayan calendar.
What happens at the solstice?
The North Pole is tilted furthest
away from the sun at the solstice. The
December solstice occurs when the sun reaches its most southerly declination of
-23.5 degrees. In other words, it is when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees
away from the sun. Depending on the Gregorian calendar, the December solstice
occurs annually on a day between December 20 and December 23. On this date, all
places above a latitude of 66.5 degrees north (Arctic Polar Circle) are now in
darkness, while locations below a latitude of 66.5 degrees south (Antarctic
Polar Circle) receive 24 hours of daylight.
The sun is directly overhead on the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere during the December
solstice. It also marks the longest day of the year in terms of daylight hours
for those living south of the equator. Those living or travelling south from
the Antarctic Circle towards the South Pole will see the midnight sun during
this time of the year.
On the contrary, for an observer in
the northern hemisphere, the December solstice marks the day of the year with
the least hours of daylight. Those living or travelling north of the Arctic
Circle towards the North Pole will not be able to see the sun during this time
of the year.
The December solstice in the calendar
December 20 and December 23 solstices
occur less frequently than December 21 or December 22 solstices in the
Gregorian calendar. The last December 23 solstice occurred in 1903 and will not
occur again until the year 2303. A December 20 solstice has occurred very
rarely, with the next one occurring in the year 2080.
Seasons, Equinoxes and Solstices
Seasons Calculator – When seasons
start
March Equinox Explained
–traditions around March Equinox
June Solstice Explained
–traditions around June Solstice
September Equinox Explained
–traditions around September Equinox
December Solstice Explained
–traditions around December Solstice
Equinox day is not exactly 12 hours
long
As with the June solstice, the
December solstice’s varying dates are mainly due to the calendar system. The
Gregorian calendar, which is used in most western countries, has 365 days in a
common year and 366 days in a leap year. However, the tropical year, which is
the length of time the sun takes to return to the same position in the seasons
cycle (as seen from Earth), is different to the calendar year. The tropical
year is approximately 365.242199 days but varies from year to year because of
the influence of other planets. The exact orbital and daily rotational motion
of the Earth, such as the “wobble” in the Earth's axis (precession), also
contributes to the changing solstice dates.
Over the course of history, many
different schemes have been devised to determine the start of the year. Some
are astronomical, beginning at the September or March equinox, or at the June
or December solstice. Solstices are more readily observable either by observing
when the midday shadow of a gnomon is longest (winter solstice in the northern
hemisphere) or shortest (summer solstice in the northern hemisphere). The
solstices can also be observed by noting the point of time when the sun rises
or sets as far south as it does during the course of the year (winter in the
northern hemisphere) or maximally north (summer in the northern hemisphere).
All dates refer to Coordinated
Universal Time (UTC). Dates may vary depending on the time zone.
December solstice in relation to seasons
It is important to note that Earth
does not move at a constant speed in its elliptical orbit. Therefore the
seasons are not of equal length: the times taken for the sun to move from the
vernal equinox to the summer solstice, to the autumnal equinox, to the winter
solstice, and back to the vernal equinox are roughly 92.8, 93.6, 89.8 and 89.0
days respectively. The consolation in the northern hemisphere is that spring
and summer last longer than autumn and winter (when the December solstice
occurs).
The relative position of the Earth's
axis to the sun changes during the cycle of seasons. This phenomenon is the
reason why the sun’s height above the horizon changes throughout the year. It
is also responsible for the seasons through controlling the intensity and
duration of sunlight received at various locations around the planet.
Solstice’s influence on cultures
The December solstice has played an
important role the lives of many people in ancient times. To this day, the
world is still influenced by various traditions linked to the observance of the
December solstice.
The Summer Solstice
Focus: Power, joy
and courage, male potency, success, marriage, fertility of all kinds,
especially for older women and for anyone approaching middle age; for
happiness, strength, energy, self-confidence, identity, health, wealth and
career; also for maximising opportunities, seizing chances and enjoying the
present.
Keywords:
Power, leadership, authority
Element:
Fire
Direction:
South
Energies:
The high turning point as full power begins to wane from this day
Symbols:
Brightly-coloured flowers, oak boughs or tall broad indigenous trees, golden
fern pollen that is said to reveal buried treasure wherever it falls, scarlet,
orange and yellow ribbons, gold coloured coins and any gold jewellery that can
be empowered at the festival, any golden fruit or vegetables.
Animal:
Bear
Tree: Oak
Candle colours:
Red, orange, gold
Crystals:
Amber, carnelian or red jasper, sun stone; also sparkling crystal quartz
spheres
Celtic Tradition:
Litha means light and Alban Heruin
the light of the shore as the sun floods over the land ripening the crops. But
it is bittersweet for the Sun God and Goddess who want the day to last forever.
Because she loved him, bonfires were lit and sun wheels made of flaming cart
wheels were rolled down the hillsides to prolong the light on this longest of
days.
The Goddess, or her representative,
cast her bouquet of summer flowers on a hilltop fire to add her power to the
sun.
The cauldron was the symbol of the
goddess giving forth her bounty on the Solstice and may be filled with small
golden coloured fruits and crystals as coven gifts.
The height of the festival has always
been first light falling on Solstice morn, like a shaft of gold across standing
stones and stone circles, linking the dimensions.
Stonehenge is oriented to mark the
sunrise and moonrise at the Summer and Winter solstices, built long before the
time of the Celts.
Druidic ceremonies based, it is
believed on Celtic ones, are held at Dawn and Noon on the Summer Solstice at
sacred circles such as Stonehenge and some groups and individuals still keep
vigil from sunset on the previous evening.
At sunset of the Summer Solstice at
Stonehenge, another significant ritual point the Heel (Sun) Stone outside the
circles casts a shadow on the Altar Stone, thus marking the beginning of the
dying of the year.
Ritual activity:
This works as well whether you are
celebrating the festival alone or with others and is based on an old
Scandinavian folk custom.
At dawn set a basket of seven
different species of flowers or seven different colours where they will catch
the first light of the Summer Solstice.
At noon each person should weave the seven
kinds of flowers on to a small circle of wire, using threads in red, yellow,
green and blue to attach them
As you/they weave silently name for
each flower over and over again in your mind or a whisper your/ their dearest
secret wish for fulfilment in the next twelve months whether for lasting love,
a child, the success of a creative venture, happiness, travel, success , health
or spiritual wisdom.
When finished the circlet/s should be
hung on a shady tree and you/the group should circle the tree nine times deosil
or sun wise, nine times in the opposite direction and then nine times deosil,
clapping rhythm till the world spins, chanting’ Come to me as I dance the
Midsummer Tree, come to me in my sleep, come to me in my waking, that when I
next dance the Midsummer tree, I shall know the joy of the seven flowers
sweet.’
If you are working alone you can
adapt the chant to fit your desire, for example if for lasting love, ‘that when
next I dance the Midsummer tree, it shall be my wedding day.’
At sundown take your wreath from the
tree and hang it over your bed. Go straight to bed when it is dark/ Picture
yourself walking as you drift into sleep
along a pathway of flowers into mist that slowly clears to reveal how
and when you will attain your desire. This may continue in your dreams
Leave the wreath on the wall of your
bedroom till it fades and then release the petals to the wind or use the
flowers in incense
Other activities
Make sun water by leaving out still
mineral water in a bowl covered with film or mesh from dawn till noon (or for
up to eight hours on a darker day). Add clear quartz or citrine crystals to the
water when you put it out (the previous evening if you prefer) and remove these
at noon.
Use the water as an energiser in
baths and drinks in the days ahead and to splash on the centre of your hairline
to open your Crown chakra and clear your aura when you feel tired or doubt
yourself.
Light a gold candle and set any small
gold items of jewellery round it if the day is dark or cloudy until the candle
burns though. If it is a sunny Solstice leave the jewellery in the sunlight
after dawn for a few hours to transfer the power of the sun into your life as
you wear the jewellery in the days ahead.
Cast golden flowers or herbs into the
air from a hill or open place, a handful at a time, making empowerments for
courage and achievement to the winds and naming for each handful a plan to
begin or bring to fruition starting tomorrow.
Light sun oils, frankincense,
juniper, rosemary, orange or benzoin or burn them as incense to bring the sun
power into your home or workplace as darkness finally falls. Vow not to let the
joy of the day fade from your life and relight one of the oils or incenses
whenever you do feel sad or anxious.
