THURSDAY is the shortest day of the year.

Dawn will rise in Huddersfield at 8.22am (which is a bit late if she wants to catch the quarter past bus) and the sun will set at 3.49pm. Of course, you will have to take my word for it because the forecast says it will be cloudy and therefore the distinction between night and day may be difficult to judge – as it has been for the last two months.

Daylight will officially last about seven and a half hours.

This is good news because after Thursday the days will start to get longer and we can begin to look forward to spring.

Yes, I know that’s a long way off but let’s be positive because people have been positive at this time of year throughout time.

The shortest day is the winter solstice, a time of rebirth and renewal. Stonehenge was aligned for the winter solstice sunset.

The Ancient Romans called it Brumalia and celebrated it in style. They honoured Bacchus, the god of wine and ecstasy, in festivities that included a lot of drinking and merriment involving wild females and bearded satyrs.

It lasted a month and usually ended on the night of December 24. So not a lot has changed there then.

Roman influence has waned since Julius was a lad and in the west the solstice now takes second place to the Christmas festival, although its religious context has slipped a bit in the present age of materialism, Mammon and the X Factor.

According to a survey by Clinton’s the card firm, people have strange ideas about Christmas.

It revealed that 25% of those asked didn’t even know it was to celebrate the birth of Christ. Some thought we eat turkey because Mary and Joseph were turkey farmers and others believed the Bee Gees were the Three Wise Men. Mind you, there are some misguided fools in the country who believe Cameron, Clegg and Osborne are three wise men, so why should we mock?

If it came to a choice, I’d pick the Bee Gees. Stayin’ Alive is better than anything the coalition has recorded.

This Christmas may be a time of struggle and gloom for many but we really do have to look on the bright side this winter solstice.

Cheer up, after Thursday spring is just around the corner. Sort of.