Solstice & Equinox

We have 4 marks of the seasons: Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice, Vernal Equinox and the Autumnal Equinox. In our tradition the Winter Solstice is considered the 'first' in this cycle. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of sunlight during the year. From that point on the sunshine begins to last a little longer each day until the Vernal Equinox occurs. This is the first day of Spring. On that day the hours of sunlight and the hours of night are equal. Then the sunlight continues to last longer and longer until, the Summer Solstice or first day of Summer. This is the longest day of the year. From that day on the days get shorter and shorter until the Autumnal Equinox happens. This is the first day of Autumn. Day and night are equal lengths again. The days get shorter until the Winter Solstice. And the cycle repeats itself year after year, season after season.