There are a number of ways to celebrate the winter solstice – the day with the shortest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere – which this year is Sunday, December 21. One can tune in to the BBC Radio 6 special and listen to musician John Grant perform (from Iceland) “Songs from a Dark Place.” Or you can take Starbucks up on its suggestion to simply stop by for a cup of coffee.
Or… you can rent a funny Steve Martin film. The banjo playing comedian is the one who once explained: “A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” (We recommend Trains, Planes and Automobiles to help get you into the holiday spirit.) Or if you want to go back a little farther, choose to spend the tiny day with the famous Steve Martin comedy album that totally embodies the spirit of the winter solstice: Let’s Get Small.