Happy Winter Solstice

It’s that time of the year again, when the days will start to lengthen and we begin to move out of the shortened darkened days. I do realize that this vantage point only works if we are on this side of the globe, since those who live on the other side of the globe experience differently.

However, the solstice affects everyone, one way or another because it is not a human-derived designation. It is a celestial event that the Earth experiences during her travels through space, hurling around the warm light of her sun. In this sense, we are not dictating to her what arbitrary holiday she is supposed to keep. She is insisting that on this day, she will follow the natural dictates of her body and tilt however she pleases.

The fact remains that we will be experiencing longer days—well, those of us who are currently living near the south magnetic pole surely are. This is because when it comes to magnets, opposites attract. The north end of a magnet in a compass is attracted to the south magnetic pole, THEREFORE, the compass needle points in that direction. Currently, the magnetic south pole is commingled with the geographic north pole, and much to the delight of Great Britain, it sits directly on top of their island.

For the first time ever, back on November 2, true north and grid north aligned in Great Britain. I touched upon this several years ago in one of my posts, Driving Bering Strait. This means that for the next few years, if you want to find Santa, you have to go to England.

As predicted, everyone tried to include the magnetic south pole into this mix, because ‘three north poles’ sounded better than ‘two north poles and a south pole’, but since it was the one odd duck out, they did what they have always done: rebranded the ‘magnetic south pole’ as the new and improved ‘magnetic north pole’.

But honey, physics don’t lie. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

Happy Winter Solstice. May your days be merry and bright.

1. Wtamu.edu