Winter solstice

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Glad to hear it.
Did you know you share your birthday with Flay of this parish? You're not twins are you?

[cloughie]

#57....or whenever Eric Pickles goes to the fridge.....

Talking of whom... did you ever wonder what Bunter would look like as an adult?

[kernelbogey]

Talking of whom... did you ever wonder what Bunter would look like as an adult?

Nigel Lawson?

[Biffo]

Glad to hear it.
Did you know you share your birthday with Flay of this parish? You're not twins are you?

Not that I am aware of and these days I am looking more and more Swelter-like, must do something about it in the New Year (squadron of pigs flies past the window).

[vinteuil]

... and to wish a Happy Winter Solstice [05:30hh, Thursday 22 December, I think... ] to all our readers.

In 2010 [cf posts above] we seemed to be tippling with armagnac* - I see no reason to abandon such a sensible practice...

Salut!

* other beverages are available

.... well, 2012 being a leap-year, the summer solstice is today 20 June. Round about 23:09 GMT this evening I think (but in BST that wd be just in to 21 June, chiz chiz )...

It is also Mme V's birthday. So today it's champagne.



Happy solstice, everybode!

[Flosshilde]

But is the summer solstice also midsummer's day? (my partner insists that it is, whereas I prefer to go with the official designation of the 24th of June)

[MrGongGong]

But is the summer solstice also midsummer's day? (my partner insists that it is, whereas I prefer to go with the official designation of the 24th of June)

"official" ??? who says ?
its a bit like saying that the first day of spring is fixed ! (some would say it IS but spring was late this year etc etc etc )

[Petrushka]

But is the summer solstice also midsummer's day? (my partner insists that it is, whereas I prefer to go with the official designation of the 24th of June)

This is a common error. The longest day is June 21 and Midsummer Day is June 24. Think Die Meistersinger and Johannestag.

[MrGongGong]

This is a common error. The longest day is June 21 and Midsummer Day is June 24. Think Die Meistersinger and Johannestag.

That's not true everywhere (from a quick net search) the Solstice is the 21st (except this year it's not http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...space-science/)
surely "Midsummers Day" is the day in the Middle of Summer ?

[kernelbogey]

This is a common error. The longest day is June 21 [....]

The astronomical background to this is addressed in posts 48 & 51 in this thread.

[amateur51]

.... well, 2012 being a leap-year, the summer solstice is today 20 June. Round about 23:09 GMT this evening I think (but in BST that wd be just in to 21 June, chiz chiz )...

It is also Mme V's birthday. So today it's champagne.



Happy solstice, everybode!

Happy Birthday, O Patient One!

[Curalach]

Aye, the nights are fair drawing in!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Midsummer Day (24th June) is the date that is the greatest distance from Christmas Day. It has no direct connection with the solstice.

[MrGongGong]

Midsummer Day (24th June) is the date that is the greatest distance from Christmas Day. It has no direct connection with the solstice.

So it has no connection with Midsummer either then ?
a bit like December 25th having no connection with the (alleged) birth of Jesus

[doversoul1]

Curalach

Aye, the nights are fair drawing in!

That was my first thought but I thought I’d keep quiet and let M. et Mme vinteuil enjoy their champagne.
(How is Mrs C?)

EA

Midsummer Day (24th June) is the date that is the greatest distance from Christmas Day. It has no direct connection with the solstice

This makes sense, as the solstice exists in non-Christian cultures but I don’t think Midsummer Day does.