Today is the Winter Solstice

grown from cuttings-Summer '25

I spend much of my gardening day chasing the sun..my patio is well-shaded by 2 Birch trees, 2 Magnolia's & a row of Palm trees, across the street. The landscape trees keep my apartment cool in the summer, shield the patio from rain, to some degree & serve as windbreaks from the north-westerlies that can suck the life right out of a plant.

However, it also means that I have to shift plants around to try & make sure that they get their fair share of sun, or at least enough to stay alive during the shortened fall-winter days. And so, as we approach the Winter Solstice, I am starting to anticipate more hours of sun, less sun-chasing & happier plants.

Meadow Rue (Cal Native) - '25

Historically, the winter solstice was far more than an astronomical event; it was a matter of survival. In a world without electricity or global supply chains, the solstice marked the "death and rebirth" of the Sun. It represented the pivotal moment when the days stopped getting shorter and began to lengthen again—a literal turning point toward spring and the promise of future harvests.

The solstice served three primary roles in ancient civilizations:

• The Agricultural Marker: It was the time to slaughter livestock (since they couldn't be fed all winter) and ferment wine and beer. This provided a rare abundance of fresh meat and alcohol, fueling massive feasts.
• The Architectural Alignment: Civilizations went to incredible lengths to align monuments with the solstice sun.
• The Victory of Light: Most celebrations focused on "helping" the sun return or celebrating the victory of a sun deity over the forces of darkness.

Euphorbia - '25

Many of these ancient traditions were eventually absorbed into modern holidays. The Roman festival of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) and Saturnalia directly influenced the timing and customs of Christmas, such as the use of evergreens, candles, and communal feasting.

The word "solstice" comes from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because for a few days around the solstice, the sun's path across the sky appears to stop before reversing direction.

So, I will celebrate the Solstice today by perhaps "tipping a cup or two" to welcome the sun back to the patio.