"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...
Winter solstice (Dec 21 or 22) is the shortest day of the year. At
least
it is in English, German, and Russian.

In French, Spanish, and Italian it is the longest night of the year.

What does that mean? "in English, German, and Russian". In what
English-language-specific way is the Winter solstice the shortest day
of
the
year and at the same time *not* also the longest night of the year?

Glass half-full, glass half-empty?

At least that's how I looked at it.

That's not the question I'm asking. I understand the difference between
looking at the solstice as the longest day or night versus the shortest
night or day, respectively.

The question is, what is it that Jim claims causes the Winter solstice to
be
"the shortest day of the year" in English? It's just as much the longest
night of the year in English as it is the shortest day.

His post implies there's some optimism in English, German, and Russian and
some pessimism in French, Spanish, and Italian, but completely fails to
explain where or how this optimism or pessimism is represented.
Personally,
I doubt there's any basis to his claim at all, but since his post isn't
even
clear about what his claim is it's kind of hard to say.

Pete


For many of us, it's interesting trivia; while for others, just trivia.
For a very few, it could be very usefull; or not.
YMMV

Peter