Winter Solstice 2024: All you want to know about the shortest day of the year

As the cold air seeps in and the holiday hymns turn into Christmas carols and cheers – it’s time for the shortest day to commence. The shortest of the year, known as the Winter Solstice, is nearing this year and here’s what you need to know about this particular day.

A solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 20–22 June and 20–22 December. In many countries, the seasons of the year are defined by reference to the solstices and the equinoxes.

The winter solstice, also called the hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, and when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. Each polar region experiences continuous darkness or twilight around its winter solstice.

The winter solstice occurs during the hemisphere's winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the December solstice (December 21, December 22, or December 23). Although the winter solstice itself lasts only a moment, the term also refers to the day on which it occurs. The term midwinter is also used synonymously with the winter solstice, although it carries other meanings as well. Traditionally, in many temperate regions, the winter solstice is seen as the middle of winter.

The winter solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere on Dec. 21 this year.
According to NASA, at 4:20 a.m. ET, the solstice will take place, marking "the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere."
If you live anywhere north of the equator, this will be the day with the least amount of sunlight. How much daylight you get depends on where you live. For example, places farther north, like Alaska, will barely see the sun, while areas farther south, like Florida, will still get a bit more light. As per NASA, "All locations north of the equator see daylight shorter than 12 hours and all locations south see daylight longer than 12 hours."
After the solstice, every day will have a little more sunlight than the one before. By the time we reach the summer solstice on June 20, 2025, it will be the longest day of the year.


Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been a significant time of year in many cultures and has been marked by festivals and rites.
This is because it is the point when the shortening of daylight hours is reversed and the daytime begins to lengthen again. In parts of Europe it was seen as the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun. Some ancient monuments such as Newgrange, Stonehenge, Cahokia Woodhenge and Ahu Tongariki are aligned with the sunrise or sunset on the winter solstice.
There is evidence that the winter solstice was deemed an important moment of the annual cycle for some cultures as far back as the Neolithic (New Stone Age). Astronomical events were often used to guide farming activities, such as the mating of animals, the sowing of crops and the monitoring of winter reserves of food. Livestock were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was almost the only time of year when a plentiful supply of fresh meat was available.
The winter solstice is the reversal of the Sun's apparent ebbing in the sky; the daytime stops becoming shorter and begins to lengthen again. In parts of ancient Europe, this was symbolized as the death and rebirth of the Sun, or of a Sun god.


The winter solstice is also a time to learn about the tilt of the sun, the theme of death and rebirth, and how Stonehenge is aligned to the sunset on the winter solstice. People celebrate the winter solstice in many ways, including:
Saturnalia: This ancient Roman tradition honors the god of agriculture, Saturn. It was originally a one-day celebration in mid-December, but is now often a week-long party.
Dongzhi: This festival in China and East Asia celebrates the return of longer days and the increase of positive energy. It is rooted in the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony.
Yaldā: This Persian festival marks the last day of the Persian month of Azar. It is seen as the victory of light over dark and the birthday of the sun god Mithra.
Inti Raymi: This festival in Peru is named after Inti, the Incan sun god. The Incas would fast for three days before the solstice, and then gather to watch the sunrise.
Yule: This European tradition involves creating an altar with items that bring joy and peace, and surrounding it with candles.
Soyal: This Hopi tradition honors kachina, or katsina, which are ancestral spirits representing the natural world. The festivities include ritual dances, gift-giving, prayers, singing, and storytelling.
Burning the Clocks: This lantern parade in Brighton, UK is a contemporary take on winter solstice celebrations.