Talk:Winter solstice

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A fact from this article was featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the On this day section on December 21, 2013, December 21, 2014, June 21, 2015, and June 20, 2016.

On 21 December 2018, Winter solstice was linked from Google, a high-traffic website. (Traffic)

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Archive 1

What is the base reference for speed?

It is written: "The axial tilt of Earth and gyroscopic effects of its daily rotation mean that the two opposite points in the sky to which the Earth's axis of rotation points (axial precession) change very slowly (at the current rate it would take just under 26,000 years to make a complete circle)"

From a human life perspective, 26 000 years for a rotation seems slow, but from many other points of view it might appear as fast. Also I believe that this truth (one circle per 26 000) is true only currently. AFAIK we are not sure that this is immutable. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kajaeshi (talk • contribs) 09:12, 21 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Language

Implications of aspects of this article (the Sun moves along a path, the poles tilt different ways dependent on the hemisphere, Earth's axis changes its angle, the meaning of the word "solstice") engage cultural discussion and reinforcement, although they differ from scientific fact. Perhaps that interpretation was intentional. However, in an encyclopaedia does a definition need more robustness with "ecliptic", "precession", "declination", "equator", and "horizon"? Do we need to spend less time in definition, and more time in conveyance of facts, and ideas? The perception of the apparent movement of the Sun needs referencing to fact. The Sun doesn't stand still, because it doesn't move. The perception is a consequence of the orbit of the Earth as Earth rotates on its inclined axis. Galileo, Kepler, Copernicus, Newton, and Aristarchus of Samos managed to prove the motion of the Earth. We need to move on. Stonehenge stands as a witness : since time immemorial the Earth is in position to see the Sun over certain stones on certain dates. Don't we celebrate the return of Earth to its position like last year, and anticipate the position next year, rather than make vague gestures towards a sun-god? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Halteres (talk • contribs) 13:13, 21 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Move discussion in progress

There is a move discussion in progress on Wikipedia talk:Disambiguation which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. —RMCD bot 20:01, 9 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Split out culture

Possibly split this article into one detailing the astronomical event and one about the culture/festivities/anthropology ('Midwinter'), similar to Summer solstice and Midsummer. If you disagree, merge Summer solstice and Midsummer? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 163.158.90.245 (talk) 19:55, 29 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Add further history?

There's a great deal of historical information regarding the likes of solstice festivals being used as a basis for invasion or subjugation by cristianity, and it deserves (in my opinion) a little recognition here. A separate section detailing some of the attempts to criminalise traditional festivals, as well as later attempts to harmonise those same festivals (or similar) with existing christian celebrations could be worth noting - as well as links to such pages as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_paganism

However, I'm not sure what the reception will be like. Any mention of Christianity in such a light seems to attract extremely negative attention from some viewers, so how is this best presented? It is improper to minimise any of the harm done by the spread of christianity solely to appease a specific group, not in the least because it would be historically inaccurate, but at the same time I don't want to start any edit wars or force the page to be write-protected. What do? R0tekatze (talk) 15:36, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]