People who love the dark were in their glory yesterday as the rest of us suffered through the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year........or, conversely, the day with the most darkness. Night-owls and Twilight devotees celebrated, along with another lesser known group of people known as druids.
Heretofore, my only knowledge of druids had come from mostly Walt Disney films, where short, little cartoon characters dressed in black robes, scurried to and fro, muttering and uttering nonsensical gibberish. Consequently, when I read an article today about yesterday's winter solstice being celebrated by hundreds of druids at Stonehenge, England, I became curious and did a little more reading about the event.
Apparently, druids gather every year at Stonehenge to mark the winter solstice, which means that the sun is closer to the horizon than any other time of year. Why this particular occurrence is meaningful to them I was not able to ascertain, but, looking at pictures of the druid gathering would indicate that it is a well-attended event. And, for the mystical druids, what more appropriate setting than the ancient Stonehenge setting? Being comfortable with mysticism is nothing new to a druid, which, according to internet sources (not Wikipedia, the source of all data true and accurate), was a priest, magician or soothsayer in the ancient Celtic religion OR a member of a present-day group claiming to represent or be derived from this religion.
As for me, I can take or leave the winter solstice, as can, I'm certain, most working stiffs who, at this time of year, leave for work in the morning enveloped in darkness and return home at the end of the day enveloped in same. The sun could drop from the sky during the day for these people and they would never know it. In fact, the sun could simply stop shining all together and they would never be the wiser. I am more of a fan of the summer solstice when the daylight goes on for ever and ever. I accomplish more during the longer daylight hours, I get up more easily, and have almost instant energy during the longer, summer-month days.
Since our government regularly toys with our clocks twice a year, why cannot the same government sages - druids, if you will - toy with our entire day, simply pronouncing that - Voila! - there should be longer daylight hours year 'round and - Voila! - it would be so.
Come on, Great Illusionist, use your illusionary powers to dazzle us rather than your disillusionary powers to depress us. Wave that magic wand.......utter those oratoric words......make something happen.
Ancora imparo
