Subj : rules of this echo
To   : Alexander Koryagin
From : Ardith Hinton
Date : Mon Dec 17 2018 20:56:02

Hi, Alexander!  Recently you wrote in a message to Anton Shepelev:

 AS>  It happened in the cusp season when late autumn yields
 AS>  to early winter and the weather is damp, cold, murky,

 AK>  I heard in this context about "we are on the cusp of
 AK>  winter season". Not sure about "cusp season".


            I'm not sure whether you're asking about the grammar or the meaning
.... but "the cusp season" is correct AFAIK.  Alternatively, I would say "on the 
cusp of the winter season" or "on the cusp of winter".

            In North America folks say "on the cusp" meaning at or near a point 
which marks a change... typically from one astrological sun sign to another.  I 
hadn't heard the word used with reference to the winter solstice before, but it 
makes sense to me.  As we speak the weather in Vancouver is very much like what 
Anton describes... and I expect +/- 16 hours of darkness on December 21st while 
Moscow is even further north.  Under the circumstances I can see why a homeless 
person who has recently awakened might enquire whether it's 8:00 AM or 8:00 PM.

            I've always found it strange that December 21st is generally listed 
on our calendars etc. as the beginning of winter... while (depending on who you 
ask) June 21st may be "midsummer day" or the official beginning of summer.  The 
earth does take awhile to warm up or cool down as the sun's rays get to us more 
or less directly.  But for many people around these parts, what matters is when 
they take their long johns, snow boots, and woolly mittens out of storage.  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

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