21st dec

[ACE]

WOO HOO the shortest day is here, you can sod off now winter.

[ACE]

[Bill Door]

Eh!

Better have a word with the old farmers Almanac as they think this is the first day of Winter.  Or do you want us to jump directly to 21 March 2017 Ace?

Bill

[galina]

Days will be getting longer, always a reason to cheer.  It isn't coincidence that all religions and none have a festival of some sorts at this time of the year usually involving lights .

Unfortunately the actual winter weather lags behind the shortest day length.  With the coldest weather still to come.  The meteorological start of winter was on the 1st of December.  But with longer and hopefully sunnier days to come, the mood certainly lightens.   

[Obelixx]

In France and Belgium the 21st of December is the start of winter.   We have had a miserable grey day with drizzle turning into light rain.   Not complaining tho.  Our garden and the fields around us are parched and need a good soak.

[Elfeda]

 I have got a new strawberry bed planted this morning. hope they enjoy the days getting longer 

[ACE]

If the 21st is the start, that will make the end of January, mid winter, that is the start of spring down here.  1st November to 1st February is my winter and I ain't changing it for nobody. I would add a couple of months either way if I was up in the frozen wastelands of the north.

[Obelixx]

In Belgium, they celebrate Chandeleur on Feb 2nd as the half way point between Xmas and the spring equinox - something to look forward to and feasted with pancakes.  Any spring before the 21st is false and likely to be short-lived and maybe a disaster for plants that get excited and then are zapped by late forsts and snows.

It remains to be seen when spring starts down here.

[InfraDig]

That's Candlemass here.

[Obelixx]

Brought up as a Methodist so no extraneous feasts.  Never heard of Candlemas till we moved to Belgium where they have a public holiday for Ascension and the Assumption plus Whit Monday at actual Pentecost.

[Digeroo]

Wonderful today was 3 seconds longer than yesterday.  Fab.  Roll on spring.
Being a long way from the sea the frost keep going into May here. 

Been so warm some of the blackcurrant buds are beginning to open. 

I'm off soon for my summer holiday.

[johhnyco15]

has been winter then 

[johhnyco15]

has been winter then 

i ment has it been winter then a little too much mulled cider me thinks