Longest night of the year

Someone did ask, so here's the answer.

This year's winter solstice will occur at 1:08 a.m. (EST) on Saturday morning, December 22. So the night of the 21st-22nd will be the longest night of the year.

AND -- that means that the days will start getting longer again.

NOTE: In the Western calendar that we all follow, four big events mark the change in seasons. Winter begins with the winter solstice; spring begins with the vernal equinox (late March); summer begins with the summer solstice (longest day of the year); and fall begins with the autumnal equinox (late September).

In the old Celtic calendar, the seasons began halfway between those events. So, winter began on November 1, spring will begin on February 1, summer begins on May 1, and fall begins on August 1. As I get older, that way of reckoning makes more and more sense.

Anyhow, now you've been warned, so you can plan your solstice activities accordingly.