MAGE MUSIC: On This Day 21 December

Monday, December 21, 2015

On This Day 21 December

Lucifer is the bringer of light to humankind, for which he has been vilified since day one.

December On This Day Winter Solstice
AUDIO Lucifer Rising

1971 Led Zeppelin - Salisbury, England at Salisbury City Hall
1993 Jimmy Page, Coverdale Page Tour - Osaka, Japan at Osaka Castle Hall
2012 Page and Plant interview on Charlie Rose CBS This Morning Show

1971 and today
A henge is a type of earthwork of the Neolithic period, generally consisting of a roughly circular bank with an internal ditch surrounding a central flat area that may or may not contain ritual structures of various kinds. About 8 miles north of Salisbury, England, where Led Zeppelin played on this day in 1971, Stonehenge is aligned to the winter solstice. Although it is one of the most well-known henges, Stonehenge in fact atypical in that the ditch is outside the main earthworks.

Just like Jimmy Page: He's a guitarist but atypical. Outside the norm. But you knew that.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year when the planet's polar cap is pointed farthest from the sun (December in the northern hemisphere, June in the southern). Festivals, religious ceremonies and rituals mark and celebrate the next morning's "rebirth" of the sun, or of deities, or simply of the hope for survival till warm weather arrives again.

In 2015, the exact winter solstice is just after 9 p.m. 21 December. EST. At Stonehenge that is 4 in the morning on the 22nd. There will be plenty of reason to rejoice when the sun rises after the long, chilly night. Pass the time by listening to appropriate music. Remember, it wasn't Lucifer who has kept humans in the dark, it has always been Lucifer's detractors who shrink from the light.

Welcome to the winter solstice!