The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, falls on Saturday, December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. This marks the beginning of winter astronomically. During the winter solstice, the day has the least amount of daylight between sunrise and sunset, resulting in the longest night of the year. This occurs when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn, a latitude line south of the equator. In places further north, the day will be even shorter, and in the Arctic Circle, the sun may not rise at all.
The winter solstice is determined by the tilt of the Earth as it orbits the sun. When the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun, nights become longer. The longest night occurs on the solstice because the hemisphere is farthest from the sun. This year, the winter solstice will happen on December 21 at 4:21 a.m. ET.
After the winter solstice, each day will gradually have more sunlight. This increase amounts to about one minute more of sunlight each day, leading to an additional hour of sunlight after approximately two months.
The winter officially ends on March 20, 2025, marking the beginning of spring. Various countries and cultures celebrate the winter solstice with different rituals and traditions. For example, Stonehenge in England is a site where people gather to celebrate the solstice. The Hopi tribe in Arizona conducts the Soyal Ceremony, while in Peru, the return of the sun god is honored. Scandinavia celebrates St. Lucia’s Day, and in China, the Dong Zhi festival is observed with traditional foods and family gatherings. Researchers in Antarctica also have their own unique traditions to mark the midwinter celebration.
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