Shortest day, solstice facts, Christmas dessert ideas

Your DAILY Companion From the Almanac Editors

View in Browser | Almanac.com | Get a Copy Tuesday, December 21, 2021 Who was born on this day? What happened today in history? Click to find out. 88 days until spring begins Question of the Day Is there anything I can do to stop the stairs in my house from squeaking? – Answer Puzzle of the Day When a person falls out a window, what does he always fall against? – Answer So the shortest day came, and the year died, And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world Came people singing, dancing, To drive the dark away. –Susan Cooper, The Shortest Day ADVERTISEMENT Winter Solstice 2021: The First Day of Winter The winter solstice happens on Tuesday, December 21, 2021! This is the astronomical first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day of the year. What happens at the winter solstice? Why is the solstice important? Enjoy solstice facts and folklore from The Old Farmer’s…    READ MORE    ADVERTISEMENT Warning: Never Feed Your Cat THIS Is your cat trying to tell you something? According to Dr. Gary Richter, one of the top veterinarians in the world, many cats are at risk of serious health issues… but their owners may be missing the warning signs.”It’s an epidemic.   LEARN MORE   6 Ancient Sites Aligned With the Solstice and Equinox Across time, people have marked the changes of seasons—sometimes in dramatic ways! Here are six amazing ancient sites aligned with the solstices and equinoxes.    READ MORE    ADVERTISEMENT Our Ancestors’ Solstice Customs As we welcome the solstice, let’s spend some time learning about how our ancestors honored the first day of winter. It’s no coincidence that there are so many holidays around the time of this astronomical event.   LEARN MORE   Christmas Dessert Recipes Check out our classic Christmas dessert recipes—from mince pies to stollen and sticky toffee pudding, as well as our easy chocolate yule cake and fun Christmas cookies. Oh, and old-fashioned gingerbread! Without further ado, here are our best Christmas baking ideas.    READ MORE    ADVERTISEMENT Get ready for cozy cold weather with your 2022 Weather Calendar! The Weather Calendar will expand your weather wisdom with fun facts like how to test ice safety, how a sunset turns red, and how day length affects fall foliage.   LEARN MORE   The Reason for the Seasons What causes our four seasons—winter, spring, summer, and fall? People puzzled over this for centuries. (Hint: It’s not the distance between the Sun and Earth.) Find the reasons for the seasons.     READ MORE    ADVERTISEMENT “New, useful, and entertaining matter” for 2022 in your trusted Almanac! The Old Farmer’s Almanac is the original, and longest running, guide to daily living. You can count on your new edition to deliver a comprehensive and trustworthy guide to 2022.   LEARN MORE   Sunrise & Sunset Calculator Our sunrise and sunset calculator displays the Sun rise and set times for the U.S. and Canada. The tool will also show you the length of day, when dawn will break, and when darkness will descend.    READ MORE    ADVERTISEMENT Our 2022 Daily Planner doubles as a diary, monthly calendar, and address book! “This calendar is incomparable. I have a huge stack of them from previous years, and they serve as diaries as well as calendars. Through the years I’ve tried others, and for me, nothing came close.” –Susan   LEARN MORE   If you enjoy the Daily Almanac... Share with a Friend THE OLD FARMER SELECTED THESE PRODUCTS FOR YOU View More Product from The Old Farmer's Store Did a friend forward you this briefing? You can sign up here. If you enjoy this newsletter, consider picking up a copy of The Old Farmer's Almanac. Your support makes this all possible! Are you on social? Enjoy more Almanac wit & wisdom!  Visit Almanac.com Shop Our Store You received this email because you signed for updates from The Old Farmer's Almanac. If you do not wish to receive our regular e-mail newsletter in the future, please click here to manage preferences. *Please do not reply to this e-mail* © Yankee Publishing Inc. An Employee-Owned Company 1121 Main Street | P.O. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444 Contact Us View web version