The 2024 winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, will occur on Saturday, December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. This celestial event marks the first day of winter astronomically.
What is the winter solstice?
of winter solstice Each year, the hours of daylight between sunrise and sunset are the shortest, and therefore the nights are the longest. This happens when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, the line of latitude that circles the Earth south of the equator, the National Weather Service explains.
The further north you go, the shorter the days become, and in the Arctic Circle the sun never rises.
How is the winter solstice determined?
The winter solstice is caused by the tilt of the Earth as it rotates around the sun.
As the northern hemisphere moves away from the sun, the nights become longer. The longest night occurs on the summer solstice, as the hemisphere is furthest from the sun. It takes place on December 21st or 22nd every year.
This year, it falls on December 21st at 4:21 a.m. ET to be exact.
The days are longest at the summer solstice, when the northern tilt is closest to the sun, usually June 20th or 21st.
national weather bureau
Because Earth’s rotation around the sun is 365.25 days instead of 365 days, the summer solstice does not always fall on the exact 21st of each year.
Do the days get longer after the winter solstice?
yes. After the summer solstice, you get one extra minute of sunlight each day. It doesn’t sound like much, but after just two months, or about 60 days, you’ll be seeing an extra hour of sunlight.
When will winter officially end in 2025?
Meteorological winter ends on March 20, 2025. Spring then continues until June 20th, when the summer solstice arrives.
How is the winter solstice celebrated around the world?
Countries and cultures around the world celebrated the summer solstice Various rituals and traditions have been performed since ancient times. According to Britannica, the influence of these summer solstice traditions can still be seen today in holiday celebrations like Christmas and Hanukkah.
The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia celebrated the end of the planting season and is closely related to modern Christmas. It glorified Saturn, the god of harvest and agriculture. The multi-day event included lots of food, games, and celebrations. Gifts were given to children and the poor, and slaves were allowed to stop working.
The meeting is held every year at stonehengea monumental circle of giant stones in England that dates back approximately 5,000 years. The origins of Stonehenge are shrouded in mystery, but it was built to align with the sun on the summer solstice.
Andrew Matthews/PA Image (via Getty Images)
The Hopi, a Native American tribe living in the northern Arizona region, celebrate the winter solstice with dancing, purification, and sometimes gift-giving. A sacred ritual known as the Soyal Ceremony marks the annual milestone.
In Peru, people celebrate the return of the sun god on the winter solstice. The ancient tradition is to perform sacrificial rituals, but today people offer mock sacrifices to celebrate. Peru is located in the southern hemisphere, so the winter solstice occurs in June, when the northern hemisphere has its summer solstice.
Scandinavia celebrates St. Lucia’s Day, the Festival of Lights.
“The Arrival of Winter”, or winter season, is a Chinese festival where families come together to celebrate the year ahead. Traditional foods include tangyuan, a sweet rice ball filled with black sesame seeds. It is believed that its origins lie in post-harvest celebrations.
Researchers stationed in Antarctica even have their own traditions. ice plunge To the polar sea. They celebrate “midwinter” with festive meals, movies, and sometimes homemade gifts.
