Lawrence Jenkins wrote:
So Gianna, were you celebrating this event the other day when you had your
party?


Yes indeed, and a great time was had by all (:
It might be best not to read things into that.

I have (or have had) friends and acquaintances of assorted religions and
lack thereof, for example:

Atheist
Buddhist
Christian (assorted)
Hindu
Jewish
Muslim (Sunni and Shia)
Pagan
Sikh
Wiccan

Many of the above celebrate *something* at around this time of the year.
The solstice is an astronomical fact, and requires no belief (or
disbelief) in anything in particular (other than perhaps the ablility to
calculate its date correctly) and is equally not against anyone's
beliefs. (Its use on my 'card' is ideal in that respect.)

So celebrating the event (why did you not like using that word?) is
marking that we are that point in the year. The space between sunrise
and sunset here was (still is) about six and one half hours and soon the
days will be just a little longer ... ideal reason to party then ...
here comes the sun ...

Soon be Hogmanay too !!!

I do enjoy a good festa (:

--
Gianna
www.buchan-meteo.org.uk