December 21 marks the Winter Solstice—the point at which the path of the sun is farthest south. For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, this solstice brings us our shortest day and our longest night.

For centuries (as far back as the Neolithic Period, in fact), people have gathered to celebrate this day of darkness. Why? Because it is also a day of hope. From now until midsummer, the sun will shine a little longer each day—bringing more and more light and warmth into our world.

What a beautiful promise to be given at the end of another tough year!

The Shortest Day

by Susan Cooper

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us—listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome, Yule!