Eight Facts About the Winter Solstice to Know
The winter solstice, which happens on the shortest day and longest night of the year, is undoubtedly the less well-known of the two solstices. We bid adieu to short days after this day at the end of December and welcome the extra hours of sunlight that await us in the coming year.
1. Every year, there are actually two winter solstices.
Did you know that there is a winter solstice on the opposite side of the planet? Because to the tilt of the planet’s orbit on its axis, the hemispheres of Earth alternate in receiving direct sunlight throughout the year.
The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the sun in December, but because of its tilt away from it, there is less direct sunlight, which lowers temperatures. Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight and stays warm.1.
Therefore, the Southern Hemisphere celebrates the winter solstice around June 21, whereas we commemorate it around December 21.
2. The Winter Solstice Occurs in an Instant
The solstice is technically only the fleeting instant when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn, although being commemorated by a full day on the calendar.
3. It Occurs on Various Days Within the Same Year
The Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) clock, which is used to regulate time around the globe, had its solstice on December 22, 2015, at 04:49. This implies that the solstice occurred on December 21st in any location that was at least five hours behind UTC.
On December 21, however, almost everyone on the planet celebrated in 2017. On the UTC time clock, the solstice occurred at 4:28 p.m., or 11:48 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
4. The first day of winter is typically marked by the Winter Solstice.
December 1st is when meteorologists declare that winter officially begins. If you ask an astronomer, though, they’ll probably tell you that the season officially begins on the winter solstice.
Astronomical seasons and meteorological seasons are two perspectives on it. Astronomical seasons are determined by the Earth’s position with respect to the sun, whereas meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle.
5. The Times of Magnificently Prolonged Shadows
The winter solstice is the perfect time for you if you enjoy small things in life, such as shadows that appear to be cast from a funhouse mirror.
Shadows cast by the sun are at their longest since it is at its lowest point in the sky. On the solstice, your shadow at noon is actually the longest of the year. While you can, enjoy those long legs.
6. There Are Fewer Full Solstice Moons Than Blue Ones
The Farmer’s Almanac states that just ten times since 1793 has the full moon fallen on the winter solstice. The most recent one occurred in 2010, coinciding with a lunar eclipse! It won’t happen again until 2094 on a winter solstice full moon.
7. A Connection to Christmas
Throughout recorded history, people have observed the winter solstice with various festivals. The Romans observed Saturnalia, early German and Nordic pagans celebrated Yuletide, and Stonehenge has been associated with the solstice.2.
Eventually, Christian authorities gave these customary celebrations a Christian significance in an effort to win over pagan populations. Numerous Christmas traditions, such as the Christmas tree, have their roots in solstice celebrations.
8. Copernicus Is to Be Thanked: The Winter Solstice
The Latin term solstitium, which means “point at which the sun stands still,” is where the word “solstice” comes from. However, when was the last time the sun moved?
Of all, we all assumed that everything revolved around the Earth, including the sun, before Renaissance astronomer Nicolas Copernicus developed the heliocentric model. Our continuous usage of the term “solstice” serves as a lovely reminder of how far we’ve gone and a wonderful chance to honor great thinkers who dared to question the current quo.
