Winter solstice

Today is the shortest day of the year and the winter solstice. In fact the actual moment of the winter solstice was four minutes ago; Wikipedia informs me that it takes place at the moment when the sun's elevation with respect to Earth reaches its lowest value (-25.5 degrees), which this year was 17.11 on 21st December. Of course our Neolithic ancestors had no way of predicting it as accurately as that but they understood that although the days would start getting longer again, the worst of the winter was still ahead. They held feasts and festivals around now because this was the time to slaughter most of the cattle so that they would not need to be fed during the winter, so there was fresh meat available for the first time in months. Also our forebears saw it as a time of rebirth and fresh beginnings - if they managed to survive the harsh winter ahead - so it seemed like a good time to appeal to their Gods' better nature by paying their respects with some feasting and sacrifice. 

David and I have both made Christmas cakes this year. I have made one for the second year in a row thanks to our fabulous Home Economics Department. And David has made one as part of his Int 2 Cake Production course. In my undoubtedly biased opinion, they are both great.
In East Kilbride today it was very bleak and cold but the shops had an abundance of tasty festive treats as I finished my food shopping for Christmas Day and stocked up for the holidays. Unlike my ancestors I have every confidence that I will still be able to feed myself and my family over the next few months, no matter what the weather brings, so I count myself lucky.