A Turning Point for All

or or those of us in the northern hemisphere, today is the shortest day of the year - wiinter solstice. For everyone else, of course, it's the summer solstice.

Either way, it's a significant time. From now on, days will start to grow longer (or shorter). In some ways, it's really the start of the new year. A time to reflect on the old one, and look forward to the new.

The solstice has been a time of festival and ceremony for thousands of years. Maeshowe in Orkney and Newgrange in Ireland were both built to line up with the sun on this day. I visited Maeshowe many years ago, though not in winter, and it was very impressive. It's not nearly as good as physically going there, but there are webcams now so anyone can see the view.

To visit Newgrange on the solstice, however, there is a lottery, drawn in October, for the 20 places available. Last year 24,000 people applied.

Whether you're one of the few who are there today or not, greetings and best wishes for the new year that's just beginning.