Solstice

This morning at 9:02 in County Meath, Ireland the sun rose above the eastern horizon and entered the lightbox over the entrance of Newgrange Passage Tomb and gradually crawled down the main passage to a chamber.
Here fifteen lucky lottery winners stood watching the shaft of sunlight crawl across the floor and up a intricately carved vertical stone at the rear of the chamber. The entire event took about seventeen minutes and was created over 5200 years ago to mark the winter solstice. We have never been alone.
At 12.25 p.m. today the sun will appear to stand still for a few moments and then begin its annual move northward. The days will grow longer until June 21st when the sun will again appear to stand still and begin its move southward.
Today marks a new beginning of the cycle. Enjoy this day, the shortest daylight time of the year.
In our ceremony Holly will give way to Oak, whose strength will take us all onward towards Imbolg, when we shall mark the end of winter.