Winter Solstice

The word solstice is from the Latin sol meaning sun, and the word sistere, meaning to stand still. As an optimist, I look forward to this day every winter, because sunrise will occur no later in the morning and sunset will occur a little later every evening. It’s encouraging to know that sixteen hours of daylight is on the way.

William F. Roberts has been writing letters to area newspapers for the past 40 years. His most recently letter in the Oneonta Star provides a historical and social commentary for this time of year.

Mr. Roberts wrote: “If asked why an atheist like myself celebrates ‘Christmas,’ my answer would be the time around the winter solstice has been one of festivities in many cultures for centuries. One could say, today, there are several ‘Christmases.’ The observances thereof blend elements from some of those cultures.

1. Commercial Christmas: The sights and sounds of this Christmas begin assailing our senses while the Thanksgiving turkey is still roasting.

2. Christian Christmas: This is the Christmas of Nativity scenes, special church services and of many avowed ‘Christians’ behaving more like real Christians than they do for most of the year.

3. Santa Claus Christmas: The Santa persona evolved from a gift-bearing folk figure, known variously since as Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas.

4. Christmas Tree Christmas: Trees, particularly the oak, were objects of reverence by the religious sect known as Druids, extant in parts of Europe, including part of Britain; Wales in particular.

So, I say ‘Merry Christmas!’ whatever the politically correctors say (though, in my Druid mind), it may translate as ‘have a good winter solstice’.”