First Day of Winter

View of Bellevue, Crowsnest Pass

Our weather has really improved here since last week and it’s not nearly as cold anymore. The polar vortex has retreated, just in time for the arrival of winter. Today is the December solstice, the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It also happens to be the shortest day of the year, in terms of daylight hours.

Beginning tomorrow, the days will finally start to become longer. Today we’ll only receive 7 hours, 54 minutes, and 18 seconds of daylight. Tomorrow we’ll be able to enjoy 7 hours, 54 minutes, and 23 seconds of daylight. I realize 5 seconds more of daylight doesn’t seem like much, but at least we’ll be heading in the right direction. By January 1, we’ll have gained more than six minutes of daylight – compared to what we’re getting now. It will be a couple of months, though, before we notice much of a difference in the length of our days.

In the meantime, we are only days away from Christmas and New Year’s, with all their festivities, celebrations, and good cheer. The holidays can provide a great opportunity to relax and gather with one’s family and friends. For me, it’s also a time to remember some of my family members and friends who are no longer here to share in the festivities and celebrations of the season.

There’s lots of snow covering our local mountains and foothills, and it looks like it’s going to be a White Christmas in Crowsnest Pass. It’s not very often where there isn’t snow on the ground around here on December 25, and it always seems more like Christmas to me, when it’s a white one.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the best in the New Year to everyone!