The winter solstice has always been a "magic" time for mankind, regardless of the religious belief system subscribed to. The nights had become noticeably longer for weeks, the days murkier, the sun styling low on the horizon. You can just imagine cavemen muttering to each other "If this carries on, we'll have to invent fire to see anything at all!"

But then everything changes ... the sun climbs higher at noon, the days get longer again. The winter solstice marks the lowest point on the daylight scale in the year. And after a few centuries of observation became a regular cause for celebration. As it still is today ... the date for Christmas might well be adapted from ancient sun-worship.

At Newgrange in Ireland a "miracle" happens, weather permitting, every year during the winter solstice - as the sun rises, it illuminates the inner chamber of the tumulus.

But this is not the only magical moment during the winter solstice:

• At Maeshowe, Orkney's awesome Neolithic chambered burial mound, the setting mid-winter sun lights an inner chamber for about three weeks before and after the winter solstice. You can watch it happen via the live Maeshowe webcams. They will continue transmitting until February 6, 2010.
• Brighton in England celebrates the lengthening days with its own local twist on a typical Northern fire festival - The Burning of the Clocks. The event includes a themed parade with as many as 1,000 participants, followed by the burning of paper and willow lanterns on the beach and a fireworks parade. Thanks to Ferne for those two hints!
• Terri, our Guide to Scandinavia Travel, recommends a natural seasonal light-show ... the Northern Lights, which are best observed on the darkest days of the year.
• If all this does not fit into your calendar and you need planning ahead: Lois Friedland points put that the winter solstice occurs in late June in the Southern Hemisphere. In Cusco, Peru, this shortest day of the year is celebrated with parades and festivals. In nearby Machu Picchu, travelers gather at dawn to watch the sun's rays spill shine through a window in the Temple of the Sun and light up a ceremonial stone.
• Can't face all this and need pampering instead? No worries ... Susan Breslow Sardone has just the treat for you: In November 2008, the first ship in Celebrity Cruise's new Solstice class debuted... and she's a beauty.

While most companies operating on or near Ireland's inland waterways are currently trying to assess the damage the recent (on ongoing) floods have caused, one of the largest boat hire companies has made Christmas 2009 unforgettable for some employees. Emerald Star Line has given notice to several employees at their three bases in Ireland and will also be reducing the fleet of hire cruisers. Personnel affected will start off 2010 in the long queues at their local social welfare office, handing in their claim and P45.

The news must, however, not have been totally unexpected - tourism is definitely down and Emerald Star Line is not the only company reducing both fleets and personnel numbers. Irish car rental firms have done so without much of a fanfare already and Aer Lingus is at loggerheads with trade unions about similar plans.

Okay, it has been an exhausting speech, but Brian Lenihan has finally delivered the Irish budget for 2010 ... with expected cuts and a tightening of screws left, right and center. The discussion is ongoing and thge public sector unions will, more than likely, cause widespread interruptions of service in a response to a minimum 5% pay cut. But what was in it for the tourist? Ups and downs ...

• Some Prices will fall marginally due to a reduction of VAT from 21.5% to 21% - if the traders pass the VAT reduction on.
• Alcohol prices should also go down, by about 12 Eurocents for a pint of beer or cider and 60 Eurocents for a bottle of wine - curb your enthusiasm, prices will still be outrageous.
• Fuel prices will go up due to a new "carbon tax", this adds around four Eurocents to a litre of petrol.
• Irish Rail is said to develop a low-fare programme for elderly visitors to Ireland, details are yet to be announced.
• On a slightly bizarre note Brian Lenihan invoked the spirit of Ted Kennedy towards the end of the budget speech and announced that, to honor the late Senator, a major investment into the Kennedy Homestead will be made ... also to boost tourism.

Exciting news? Not really, at least in my opinion - overall nothing will change (much), though the thought of a senior-friendly rail tourism project makes sense. We'll just have to see how this works out. And remember that Ireland's rail network is not the most comprehensive. By the way ... I sincerely hope that this will be an integrated plan that includes rail travel in Northern Ireland!

December 8th is a magical day in the Irish calendar - not because it is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation ... but because traditionally half the country seems to be obliged to head into the cities and larger towns. You see, tradition has it that the kids are off school and that you do your Christmas shopping on this day. Obligatory traffic jams and shopping centers bursting at the seams make for a day of fun and frolics.

On the other hand this might be the best day to head out to some attractions in the countryside. There's nobody there. And you'll be driving past the traffics snarl-ups into the opposite direction.