Winter Solstice: The Shortest Day of the Year
Today might feel especially short, and you may wonder where the daylight has gone. Don’t fear, this is a regular occurrence every year. But, why does this happen? In today’s blog, we explore the science behind the Winter Solstice. As well as its historical and cultural significance.
What is the Winter Solstice?
The Winter Solstice occurs when wither of Earth’s poles reaches its maximum title away from the sun. This happens yearly, and once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For the chosen sector, they experience a day with the shortest period of daylight (and, thus, longest night) of the year. This is because the sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. The opposite event happens in the summer.
Technically, the Winter Solstice lasts only a moment itself. In fact, this year, it will occur at 15:59 Universal Time. However, the term also refers to the day in which it happens. Another term you might hear is “midwinter“. Another technicality is that this event marks the start of winter rather than the middle of it – although this changes from region to region. We will see Spring around March next year.
Countries with the Shortest and Longest Days
Of course, our shortest day will be longer than others who live further away from the equator. Check out how much daylight these cities experience on both ends of the spectrum.
- Murmansk (a region in the far northwest part of Russia) and Inuvik (in Canada) will experience 0 hours of daylight.
- Following that, come cities from the northern parts of Scandinavia: Bodø with 49 minutes, Rovaniemi with 2 hours and 14 minutes, and Luleå with 3 hours and 8 minutes. Capitals like Oslo and Stockholm experience around 6 hours of sunlight — that’s only 1/4 of a 24 hour day!
- Cairo (in Egypt) is close to the equator, but still in the Northern Hemisphere. Citizens there experience 10 hours and 12 minutes of daylight.
Cultural and Historical Significance
In Neolithic times, astronomical events served as guides for activities such as the sowing of crops and the monitoring of winter reserves of food. Thus, many mythologies and traditions derive from these thinkings. The Winter Solstice was incredibly important because people were dependent on monitoring the progress of the seasons.
In more temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last feast before deep winter set in. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. Thus, making in the time of year where fresh meat was aplenty.
Additionally, because the event saw the reversal of the Sun’s presence in the sky, the concepts of the birth or rebirth of sun gods was common.
Holidays Celebrated on the Winter Solstice
- Alban Arthan (Wales) – a druid ritual of mistletoe cutting.
- Brumalia (Ancient Rome)- a day that honoured the gods Saturn/Cronus and Ceres/Demeter/
- Dongzhi Festival (East Asia) – traces back to yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos.
- Sanghamitta Day (Theravada Buddhism) – honouring the monk who contributed to the propagation of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
- Shalako (Zuni) – a series of dances and ceremonies conducted by the Zuni people for the Zuni people at the Winter Solstice.
- Yaldā (Iran) – celebrates the longest and darkest night of the year.
- Yule (Neopagan) – connected to the Wild Hunt and the god Odin.
- Ziemassvētki (Latvia) – observes the Winter Solstice and the birth of Jesus Christ.
- Midwinter Day (Antartica) – one of two principle Antarctic holidays.
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