Today is Winter Solstice, a national holiday in the Kingdom of Bhutan on January 2nd each year. Known as Nyilo, in the Bhutanese calendar, this is the first day of Winter and the shortest day of the year.
Nyilo, according to the Bhutanese calendar based on Buddhist astrology, is the first day of winter and the shortest day after which the days start getting longer until the summer solstice. Of course, on an astronomical rather than an astrological basis, the Winter Solstice takes place on December 21st or December 22nd.
Nyilo literally means “the return of the sun”. As with other new year’s days around the world, Nyilo is an auspicious day on which past mistakes can be removed and the benefit of good deeds is multiplied. It is considered as a sacred day and everyone is discouraged from taking part in negative activities.
Traditionally on the eve of Nyilo, Children visit every home in their village, singing “Lolay” – ancient verses which basically wish a prosperous or good new year to the house, home and family of the people the children are visiting. In return, the head of the family gives the children gifts of rice, meat and other ingredients, with which they cook a sumptuous meal or go for a picnic the following day. It’s a custom that children should be in odd numbers when visiting homes, as even numbers bring bad luck.
Today is the birthday, in 1945, of American singer, songwriter Stephen Stills who was a member of Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Manassas. With CS&N he had the 1969 UK No.17 single ‘Marrakesh Express’ and the 1970 US No.1 album Deja Vu plus the 1971 solo UK No.37 single ‘Love The One Your With.’ Stills’s first solo album, Stephen Stills, (1970) went gold and is the only album to feature both Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj8FlXGPcOQ
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