The 2024 winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs on Saturday, Dec. 21. This celestial event marks the first day of winter and is significant both astronomically and culturally.
What is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight, resulting in the longest night. It happens when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, a latitude line south of the equator. The further north you go, the shorter the daylight hours become. In the Arctic Circle, the sun does not rise at all on this day.
How is the day of the winter solstice determined?
The winter solstice occurs due to the Earth’s axial tilt as it orbits the sun. When the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun, longer nights follow. The solstice happens each year around Dec. 21 or 22, with this year’s event occurring precisely at 4:21 a.m. ET on Dec. 21.
Will days start getting longer after the solstice?
Yes! Each day after the solstice, daylight increases by about one minute. In just two months, the amount of daylight will grow by roughly an hour.
How is the winter solstice celebrated worldwide?
Across the globe, cultures have observed the solstice for centuries with various traditions. In ancient Rome, the Saturnalia festival marked the end of the planting season, closely influencing modern-day Christmas customs. Stonehenge gatherings in England, the Hopi tribe’s Soyal Ceremony, and the Dong Zhi festival in China are just a few examples of solstice celebrations still practiced today.