The Winter Solstice Has Arrived, and Winter has Begun!

Wednesday, December 21st, marks the arrival of the Winter Solstice. The Solstice will officially take place at 5:44 A.M. EST here in the northern hemisphere. Many cultures over the centuries have marked the solstice as a time of reflection and celebration for the winter season. In fact, the day will also mark the first official day of winter for all of us.

The day of the solstice has been recognized as the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight, and the solstice itself marks the moment when the sun shines at the most southern point directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.

On the solstice, all the locations south of the equator have day lengths that are greater than twelve hours. However, all the northern locations have day lengths less than twelve hours. After the solstice, the days will gradually get longer and the nights will get shorter. This is especially good news for those of us feeling like we live in perpetual darkness after six p.m.

The actual hours of the solstice vary from the summer solstice that often occurs in June. The hour of the winter solstice is seven hours, forty-five minutes, and forty-one seconds long. This is eight hours and forty nine minutes shorter than the summer solstice. To clarify, the solstice is technically a specific point throughout the day.

The date of the solstice is not set in stone, although many festivals are celebrated around the world with the solstice in mind. The solstice can happen anywhere from December 20th through December 23rd, although experts have noted that a solstice on either the 20th or the 23rd is a rare occurrence. In fact, the last solstice to take place on the 23rd actually occurred in 1903, while the next one will not happen until 2303.

Popular solstice celebrations include a gathering at Stonehenge in England. Historians have proven that the original design of the stone structures relied heavily on the solstice. This let the ancient peoples know about the annual slaughter and trading traditions of the season. The solstice is also celebrated with lights and parties in other parts of the world. The most popular celebration around the solstice is, of course, the holiday of Christmas.

While you might not be able to physically see it, know that on Wednesday there is change in the air. The days are getting longer and the spirit of the season will be in full force. The Winter Solstice gives us a great deal to celebrate!