That was a long day
Our world has this funny habit of rotating around the sun. At different points of the year it takes to go around it gets more or less sunlight depending on where you are. In the Northern hemisphere, we celebrate what ancient civilizations dubbed summer solstice on this day. The word derives from Latin meaning sun stands still. This is because their celestial observers noted that the sun seems to “stand still” at its farthest northern point at noon for a few days before changing direction. For most of us, though, we just say: That was a long day, as it is, indeed, the longest day of the year. While equinoxes provide roughly equal days (12 hours each sun and dark) solstice provides about 15 hours of sunlight here in the Northeast USA.
That number may vary depending on where you are. At the equator it’s still a little over 12 hours. Meanwhile at the North Pole, it’s 24 hours of sunlight. Hence the name the “land of the midnight sun”. The allure of the summer solstice is this exposure to the minor star we are tethered to. Vampires may not enjoy it. But, most living things on the Earth needs exposure to sunlight. So, what’s the big mystique. Thanks to Druids, Wicca, and other worshipers of nature, solstices and equinoxes have a mixed reputation. The general public and followers of major religion see people who observe celebrations such as this as cults.
But, who is more cultish? The people who recognize the tangible effect of Earth’s relation to the sun and all living things? Or, the people who believe there is an unseen entity controlling everything we do, yet, allowing starvation, suffering, injustice, and wars?
Table of Contents
Why do we say that was a long day?
In reality, all days are about the same. The difference is the amount of light we receive. If you live in the vicinity of the poles, it’s not like the calendar or time stop when you go from 24 hours of light to 24 hours of darkness. Life goes on. The world goes on. But, that doesn’t stop people from saying “that was a long day.” The day doesn’t change. Time, as we know it continues at the same rate. It’s, simply a case of perception. We categorize time into day and night. Then, we further compartmentalize it into subcategories: Morning, early morning, late morning, mid day, afternoon, late afternoon, evening, night, midnight, late night, etc.
Most people only see certain times of the day. People value their “sleep cycles” and the “blessed schedule”. When the schedule is full, it appears the day is long. You find yourself occupied all day long. And, heaven forbid, you stay up an hour or two past bedtime. Then, it’s a really long day. Try the life of a caterer. I usually see the hours most people avoid: 2, 3, 4 AM. One day I go in in the middle of the night. The next, I’m working a wedding until 11 PM, then back in 4 hours later. The days aren’t longer. But, what I see of them sure seems like it is. So, that’s really the reasoning behind the “long day” claim. It’s how much of it you see, and how you fill it.
What does the longest day mean to the world?
All over the northern hemisphere, people relish the long days of summer. There is little chance of snow. The water is inviting. Plants everywhere thrive. That’s why ancient religions seized upon solstices and equinoxes. These are times that dictate the very way life was led. Summer brings fresh abundant food. But, without modern day preservation techniques, you had to eat it there and then. At the same time, you use methods like smoking, pickling, and curing to save food for the months when it’s scarce. People think of civilizations like the Druids and other ancient groups as these mystical beings with ethereal tendencies and insight into the occult. In reality, they were extremely practical, studying the movement of the sun to plan their survival.
This makes modern religious observances appear kind of silly and random in comparison. They worshiped because their lives depended on it. We worship because we believe some unseen omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent force or being is directing and manipulating our existence. If that were true, why would there be so much suffering in the world. And, the ones imposing the suffering are doing just fine. If there is a deity, he, she, or it isn’t doing a very good job. It’s not like modern day suffering is new. People and all living beings on Earth have endured suffering throughout the entire history of the world. Remember that the next time you complain about how “that was a long day”.
Does solstice mean anything these days?
Before modern amenities such as air conditioning, refrigeration, electricity, light, sustainable housing, clocks, and calendars with cute sayings and pictures, life depended on determination and close observation of the world around. People banded together and took note of the movement of the sun, moon, stars, and cloud patterns to determine things like time, date, and seasons. They shared observations and passed that wisdom down through generations. Civilizations like the Mayans created calendars based on the interaction of the Earth, sun, and universe. And, they celebrated milestones such as solstices and equinoxes with ceremonies, praise, and worship.
Our own calendar is based on celestial movements. Over millennia, inaccuracies in calendars and the uneven nature of the earth’s elliptical path around the sun have cause time shifts. So, what was January 1 then is more like December 22 now. That would make winter solstice the start of the new year. Modern religions schedule major holidays around these major astronomical events. Christmas and Hanukah around winter solstice, Easter and Nowruz around vernal equinox, and Rosh hashana and Navratri at Autumn. But, summer solstice doesn’t have a lot of modern religious observance. That’s because when people have things good, they don’t feel a need to give thanks. Religions love to complain and ask for help. But all’s good in summer.
What A selfish lot to complain “that was a long day”
Isn’t that the point of religion, to blame a deity for all your woes. There is little to no accountability for the individual. It’s all part of God’s plan, will or design. Really? Did God make you to be a petty whiny mundane person addicted to ticktock? Did he make people like Hitler, Stalin, and Mao for entertainment, providing unscrupulous, uncaring people with vast wealth and power, while others struggle, suffer, and plod through life, fighting for survival? This is the divine plan? Perhaps god made man. But, man made god into a symbol and tool to create an unequal playing field. People fear the Atheist. But, it’s the God fearing man who is the danger. This is where empires rise and fall, not from a lack of faith, but from a manipulation of it.
People explain the contradiction of an omnipotent god allowing injustice as god giving man “free will” (and Free willy). Well, a minority of people took that “free will” to give them free rein to rain abuse over people resulting in continuous reigns of oppression. The Pharaohs of Egypt, Emperors of Rome, Vikings, Feudal Kings and lords, and now the oligarchs in every country around the world consolidate power to control the masses. Narcissism and entitlement create a caste system in which the poorest (and many in the middle ranks) are merely fodder for the consolidation of wealth and power. Some of the older regimes used force and violence to suppress the people. Today, they use economic pressure, requiring vast wealth to live a comfortable existence while funneling most of it toward the top.
Seize the day on the longest day
None of the religions have done anything to reverse the inequality. And, the leaders use religion to justify their hold on society. James Talarico points this out, quite eloquently, in his current campaign, how Christian nationalist politicians rile people up over culture war issues that aren’t even in the bible while ignoring the actual values espoused in Judaeo Christian scriptures which are the values of helping each other. People seem to forget that the heroes in religion are not the emperors, kings, and land owners. It’s always the oppressed and underdog who win the day. And, religion, in the hands of the ruling class has warped peoples’ understanding of right vs wrong.
Jesus “died for your sins”. He was supposed to stand as a symbol and the embodiment of the rebellion finally taking back the Earth to live in peace and harmony. How’s that going for everyone? If anything, inequality, oppression, violence, injustice, and destruction have only multiplied. If people were actually following the tenets of their religions, we wouldn’t be in this. Every major religion espouses respect and love for all living things. But, leaders, both secular and religious, bend the words and warp the messages to allow them to do the opposite of religion’s intention: to free the soul. Instead, they enslave us. It’s long past time to rebel.
How can we do that without complaining that “that was a long day”?
That’s the crux of the problem now; Isn’t it? The oppressors have had control for so long, that they can’t be dislodged. And, the masses are so used to the “system” that there is no impetus to change things. People accept their lot. And, often with pride. People wear their identity as a schmuck proudly, allowing their cultural position and ideology to define them. It shows up in pop culture, social media feeds and bumper stickers. I’m an Okie from the skokie, working class hero, or redneck and proud of it.
John Lennon rattled a bunch of cages with his song Imagine. The line, “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can” sums up the problem with overturning the system. People love their stuff. And, they work hard for it. No one wants to give it up. And, to suggest such a thing is blasphemy. Take a hike you pinko commie! We now live in a world where we have instant access to the entire world. With over 8 billion people it’s impossible to get through to a significant amount of people to enact change. Nobody wants to give up what they have . But, they’ll hand it over to the ruling classes with little to no resistance. It appears this long day has lasted too many centuries.
So, to enact a change it will take a fundamental change in the hearts and minds of over 4 billion people. maybe that’s part of the divine plan? Or, maybe burn it all down and start over again.
Which brings us back to solstice
Could we really burn it all down and start all over again? Ancient alien theorists posit that ancient ruins are proof we were visited by aliens long ago. Look at the Pyramids, Machu Picchu, and Gobekli Tepe. We posit that they were developed by aliens because we wouldn’t have had the expertise to build something like them at the time. But, what if we did? What if people roamed the Earth with technology far beyond our current knowledge, but, they screwed up royally? Just look at the technological advances we’ve made in the last 100 to 200 years. Who’s to say there weren’t people or some life form living here capable of building giant structures and things we don’t yet comprehend? And, it all got swept away.
Someone recently threatened to bomb people back to the stone-age. Maybe that’s what happened. And, when people began to re-populate the earth, they had to start all over again. They observed their surroundings, looked to the skies, and recognized patterns. They began to chronicle the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. And, Solstice was born. Solstice represents our basic understanding of who we are, where we are, and what we can do if we pay attention. Maybe that’s the message of the day. If we get nothing else from the day, the least we can do is “pay attention”!
Speaking of paying attention: let’s honor this day with the welcome summer deserves. It’s going to be hot with lots of sun exposure. So, make the most of it with these cooling recipes.
Happy Solstice!
Blackberry Mojito
Ingredients
- 6 to 8 oz Rum (traditionally white. But, feel free to substitute)
- 4 each small to medium limes cut half or into wedges
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1/4 cup sugar (preferably organic)
- 2 cups Soda water (club soda or sparkling, not tonic)
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
Instructions
- Muddle sugar and mint in a pitcher by pressing down with a muddling stick or wooden spoon. This crushes the mint and blends the flavor into the sugar. Squeeze the limes and toss them in. Continue to muddle. Add the rum and berries and stir. Then add the sparkling water and ice. Give a good stir to mix everything. Then pour into glasses and garnish with more lime wedges and mint.
- For a more dramatic effect dip the rim in mint sugar.
Summer Cherry and Key Lime Daiquiri
Ingredients
- 12 each Key Limes, cut in 1/2, plus extra for garnish
- 2 Cup Fresh cherries, pits removed, plus extra for garnish
- 8 Oz Light or Golden Rum
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Lime Juice
- Lots of ice
- 1 tsp Grated Lime Zest mixed with 1/2 cup sugar to rim the glasses Optional
- Little Umbrellas definitely optional
Instructions
- Cut the key limes in 1/2 and squeeze into a pitcher. Then toss the limes into the pitcher.
- Remove pits and stems from the cherries and add into the pitcher. Then add in the sugar. Muddle these to extract as much flavor as possible.
- Add in the remaining ingredients. Stir well.
- Moisten the rims of the glasses and dip them in the sugar and lime zest mixture. Fill with ice and then strain the drink into the glasses. garnish with cherries and limes.
- You could also make frozen daiquiris by doing the muddling, then removing the key limes and blending the drink in a good blender with lots of ice.
Notes
Local baby Greens with Summer vegetables and Herbed Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 4 handfuls Local baby Greens
- 1/2 cup Sliced seedless cucumber
- 1/2 cup Heirloom Baby tomatoes cut in 1/2
- 1/4 cup Julienne Red Onion
- Any other seasonal vegetable (optional)
- For the Dressing
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup Champagne Vinegar (or white wine. May substitute any type of wine vinegar)
- 1 tsp chopped shallot
- 1/2 tsp fresh chopped garlic
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (assorted)
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 cup Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing. Put all ingredients except oil in a blender. Turn on low. Then turn up to high speed. Add in the oil while the machine is running until the dressing becomes creamy and emulsified. Set aside.
- Cut all your vegetables and either serve in a bowl tossed with the dressing or arranged artfully and served with dressing on the side.
Caribbean Spiced Grouper with Vanilla Mango Salsa
Ingredients
- 4 each 6 ounce boneless grouper fillets
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 tsp ground Cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp Ground Allspice
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Coconut Oil for cooking
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Cilantro
- 1 whole lime
- For the salsa
- 1 cup Fresh Mango (Peeled and diced about 1/4 inch)
- 1/2 cup diced sweet onion
- 3 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Cilantro
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Hot chili (Jalapeno or serrano is fine, step up to habanero if you want really spicy, but cut back on amount a bit)
- 1/4 cup diced bell pepper (Red, green, yellow, or orange)
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1/4 tsp Ground Allspice
Instructions
- The toughest part is peeling and cutting the Mango. The Method that I have seen most success with is to place the mango on a cutting board. Cut off the two ends. Stand it up, and slide a knife down as close to the skin as possible to remove the skin in 1/2 to 1 inch strips, repeat until you have fully peeled the Mango. You should be able to see the top of the pit in the middle of the flesh. Carefully, slice down alongside the pit on both sides to cut the mango in half. Then, you can go back and cut the remaining flesh around the sides of the pit, feeling your way down with the knife. Mango flesh is very soft, when ripe. You will be able to tell if you are cutting into the pit, because it is very hard.
- Make the Salsa. Once you have cut all your fruits and vegetables, mix all the salsa ingredients in a bowl. refrigerate for about an hour or more for the flavors to blend.
- Mix all the spices and cilantro for the fish. Let the fish sit for about an hour to absorb the flavors of the spices. Then, heat a thin layer of coconut oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. When the oil is just below the smoking point, place the fish in the hot oil. Allow it to cook 3 to 4 minutes, then flip over to the other side. Let it finish cooking through. The amount of time, depends on the thickness of the fish fillets. When they are cooked through, squeeze some fresh lime on them and remove from the heat.
- Plate the Fish, and top with the mango salsa. Serve with Rice and Beans and seasonal grilled Squash or to be more authentic to pre-Columbian times use our Sweet potato succotash recipe.