New View Askew: December 2025

AI-Free

Every year I say I am going to give up my affection – some might say obsession – for the winter solstice. It appears, however, I just can’t abandon this minor personality disorder. That tiny pinprick of hope at this dark time of the year always draws me back.

For me, shortly before June 21st, it starts simply as low spirits. Then hour by hour, as the night begins to eat into the days, I descend into a type of melancholy. Not a wholesale breakdown, mind you, just a Nordic glumness. Somehow, it seems to really hit home in earnest right after the day light saving time change. Is it the earlier sunset that dims my mood? Anyway, the encroaching darkness throws its ugly shadow over the northland and the cold dreary gloom seems endless.

Yet oddly, like a person clinging to a life raft waiting for a ship on the horizon, I strangely look forward to this moment each year. As they say, it is darkest before the dawn.

Our faith in the timeless rhythm of life is rewarded! Suddenly we can feel it creeping up on us as it usually does. Minute by minute we approach that marvelous time of the year when the sun performs its magical slow U turn at the Tropic of Capricorn and starts its trudge up to greet its twin brother, the Tropic of Cancer - and the 6 months of joy to follow!

Somehow this causes me to pity the poor folks that live in those boring and sultry low latitudes. Why, you may ask? Well, have you ever spent the holidays in Las Vegas or Phoenix - or especially Ft Meyers? Think about it: Thanksgiving with turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. On a patio. In 75-degree weather. Absurd!

Blow up Santas, Christmas songs - with palm trees? Shorts, and flip flops? Pina Colada's instead of Eggnog? Another day at the beach or - curse you! - golf?

After all which of these say happy holidays. . .

These?

Which tree is not like the others?

Or this?

Well duh, no kidding!

Sacre bleu!

(Las Vegas guys?)

So I laugh at those effete poseurs' nonsensical celebrations. I say, no pain, no gain - I choose to suffer for my obsession!

REAL Man

Just like me (sorta)

Lucky us in Minnesota! Is it any wonder that over the millennia people of every race, creed, or religion - especially in northern climes - have tapped this time for a major celebration? The Celts built Stonehenge 5000 years ago to note the exact day of the year when this occurs. The Gaul's, the Germanic people, the Romans, Christians – and many others - all celebrated this annual event in one way or the another. From prancing around a candle-laden tree to drunken parties . . . to the birth of a child. It's all good.

Pederson family Solstice celebrants
(My uncle Singvald - you can tell by the same powerful torso and musical gift.)

I don't wish to denigrate the summer solstice (smirk) even as depressing as it is. Certainly people also celebrate the long, languid, peak days of June - but not in the same way, of course, nor with the same joyous fervor as we swains of the winter solstice. After all, what do the summer celebrants have to look forward to? Shorter days, leaf raking and then butt-numbing cold? We thinking people know that it is the beginning of the end of the glory of summer.