Solstice

With all the debate currently in North America - the US in particular - about how to acknowledge the various holidays at this time of year (Is it "Merry Christmas" or "Season's Greetings"? Can we sing carols in schools? etc.).  I go for the one celebration that is indisputable: the Solstice. We can all celebrate the Solstice.  Where I live - in the northern half of our planet - we celebrate the return of light: the days lengthening. In the south, it is the beginning of  the womb-time or at least in the many hot countries, a welcome shortening of the days.

For a very rich consideration of the history and meaning of Solstice celebrations, take a look at Richard Heinberg's Celebrate the Solstice.