Bloody hell, Bryn - is there any need for such nastiness??

I started this thread to point to the simple astronomical fact that we reach solstice point today at 17.47 GMT and everyone starts coming all spiritual. All I'm bothered about the beginning of a new solar year to which is attached no spiritual significance whatsoever because there is nothing mystical, sacred or holy about it. It is a turning point in our calendar, a material fact which affects the entire planet and every person on it regardless of age, faith, creed, ethnicity or gender. It is a good reason for us all to smile, to look forward; and it happens today, separate from the other cultural & religious associations of Xmas and New Year which might, arguably, be echoes of solstitial observances from ages past, but underlying it all is an ancient astronomical fact which, stripped of all the accumulated religious hoo-hah, is still a bloody good reason to be cheerful. For here the year turns, and, although Winter begins in earnest, we will watch the days steadily getting longer until we reach the vernal equinox (20th March 2010, 17.32 GMT) after which point the days be longer than the nights. Believe what you must, faith is subjective, but facts are facts - the objective glory that unites us all in one glorious commonality of humanity, which is what I'm thinking about right now - just one of the bunch - as each & every one of us are, circling the sun on the spaceship earth, destination unknown!

I look up out of my window to see the new moon in perfect alignment with whatever that star / planet is up there just now; both filtering through the twilight in suitable glory. There's only one song that'll do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNzzBXuxJ5w