Yeppers, its winter Solstice again. Time to celebrate the changing of the year from old to new. WHAT!!!! you don't follow the Ancient's Agronomic Calendar???? Well not many folks do anymore. At best they might remember this is the shortest day of the year. And then only if the TV news slips it in between war and doomsday coverage.
For the Ancient Celtic's this would be the beginning of their growing season. Time to plan what and where to grow their crops for next year. Even the Mayan's would be celebrating the beginning of another year by turning the calendar. At least that seems to be what modern day Mayan's are doing.
If the weather hold out, tomorrow we will go up to a spot on Mutton Hunk Fen Preserve that holds a special spot in ancient history. We are lucky enough to have
one of the Carolina Bays on the preserve. These bays were formed about 140,000 years ago due to some sort of meteoric impact with the earth near todays Saginaw Michigan. Back then the northern half of the US was in the middle of an ice age. Michigan was covered with anywhere from 1 to 2 miles of ice known as the Wisconsin Ice Sheet. Whatever it was that hit the earth came in at a very low angle. This object came through the atmosphere fast and was really really hot. It hits this huge block of really really cold ice. The explosion must have been tremendous. Most of the ejecta (big word for fragments of the object) flew in a general South West direction. When they finally hit the ground they slide making a tear shaped impression. An impression that usually points back to Saginaw. Some of the ejecta must have been pretty big. Our Carolina Bay is approximately 5 acre in size.
I have no idea whether there is any historic or mystical significance to this site, and it doesn't really matter. Mutton Hunk is a place that is truly unique. It was rescued from development, and is being allowed to return to its natural state. I hope you'll take a moment today to find a spot outside in nature, and take a moment to enjoy the rhythms of our earth.
Happy Solstice……Grenville
8 comments:
Happy Solstice. I enjoyed this post.
We always looks forward to the winter Solstice--it's the beginning of more daylight for us! There's even a festival downtown. We're down to 3 hours and 42 minutes between sunrise and sunset, but we'll start gaining a minute on Saturday and little by little we'll be gaining daylight for the midnight sun. I won't be spending any more time outside than I have to though--it's 42 below right now, but it's supposed to get up to 35 below tomorrow and maybe even 10 below by Christmas.....
Spent many a solstice at the Henry Wallace Foundation. Henry started Pioneer Seed among many other ventures and served under FDR.
I never knew about the meteor hitting the ice sheet.
Meanwhile, the solstice arrived in style. We are getting a very big and wet dumping. This is the third snow day (as in no school buses) in just two weeks. Right now, there is loud music and boisterous music going on outside my door.
i am for anything that is preserved in its natural state and of course it would be a snappers paradise...
Didn't find a lot of info fromm the state on the fen, but they are fun areas to visit.Let me know where I can learn more or capture a pamphlet.
Interesting post.
Ditto on more daylight, a very good thing, ..love watching the lighting of more daylight. Interesting solstice reminder
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