this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2025
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[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 0 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Actually, there is no such thing as a 'winter solstice.' The start of the Northern winter is the start of the Southern summer.

[–] null@piefed.nullspace.lol 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Sure. But none of that makes New Years Day arbitrary by virtue of it not being, in fact, the winter solstice.

[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

If you use the equinoxes or the solstices you're still being arbitrary because there are two of each.

January 4 is the day of the year that the Earth is closest to the Sun [perihelion] That would be a good date, but there will be those who argue for stating the year when Earth is furthest away.

[–] null@piefed.nullspace.lol 0 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

Okay, but why would that mean that New Years Day not being the winter solstice makes it arbitrary to celebrate on Jan 1?

[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

It's arbitrary because there's no moment that is the obvious beginning of the cycle.

That's the very definition of 'arbitrary'

[–] null@piefed.nullspace.lol -1 points 13 hours ago

That moment is the moment the Julian calendar restarts. It's not arbitrary at all, and certainly not made so by virtue of it not being the/a winter solstice (your original statement).