Silly astrologers (was Re: [HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Winter Solstsice)

[sistermagpie]

> Magpie wrote:
> > <snip> I can't imagine crisp Fall days with late sunsets, for
> instance. But when I think of the things I notice most about 
different
> seasons it's probably a toss between what twilight looks like/when 
it
> comes and the smell of the air. 
> 
> Carol responds:
> Whereas, for me (prosaically), winter equals snow, spring equals
> flowers (especially bulbs and fruit tree blossoms), summer equals
> sunshine (June) and thunderstorms (July and August), and fall 
equals
> brightly colored leaves turning brown and *fall*ing. I guess that
> comes from growing up in Flagstaff, which would have a New-
Englandlike
> climate if it weren't for the relative scarcity of rain (and 
humidity).

Magpie:
I've always lived in a New England climate as well. But the length 
of the days isn't just an afterthought for me, it all goes together. 
Fall=the right smell+earlier sunsets+falling leaves+chill. (Lately, 
the light is the only thing behaving properly since summer keeps 
dragging itself off longer and longer.) When you're inside (as I 
usually in) the light is just as obvious as the weather outside.

I grew up with the same standard pictures for winter, spring, summer 
and fall, but when it got dark was always important too. There are 
practical considerations to it as well--people didn't always just 
switch on the light when it got dark, after all. You had to work 
around the sun as much as you did around the weather.

-m (freezing today, but still can tell it's getting nearer to spring 
because it's not dark in here like it would be in December. February 
freezing is different than December freezing. Yule vs. Imbolc--there 
is a difference!)