Winter Solstice

Winter solstice is a phenomenon that happens twice every year on Earth. In one instance, it occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, and in another, it takes place in the Southern Hemisphere.

At the time of the Winter Solstice, the angle of the hemisphere causes it to be farthest from the Sun. As a result, the period of daylight is very less, while the span of nighttime increases. Here, it will be worthwhile to briefly elaborate on the major points of this subject at hand.

• Winter Solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere around the 21st of December. June 20th is the approximate date when it is seen in the Southern Hemisphere.
• This Solstice is something that is there only for a few moments. Yet, the term “Winter Solstice” includes the entire day when it happens.
• In many regions of the world, the Winter Solstice is associated with various rituals and festivals. People of varied ethnicities recognize this Solstice as that time from which the daytime again starts becoming longer. They consider it as an occasion warranting a celebration. In several European zones, the Winter Solstice is believed to be symbolizing the death and the subsequent rebirth of the Sun.
• Many people wonder whether the Winter Solstice can be seen. The answer to that question is an affirmative “yes,” as the Solstice can be noticed. If a person is outdoors on the afternoon of this day, they can observe that their shadow is the longest. This is in contrast to the afternoons of all other days of the year.
• The exact moment of the Solstice is not noticeable to the general public, though modern astronomy can easily pinpoint the timing. However, observing the aspect mentioned in the previous point is easily within people’s reach.
• Also, during the few days before and after the Winter Solstice, the Sun at the horizon appears very close to the land. It feels as if the points of sunrise and sunset are the same.
• Many people hold on to a misconception that the Winter Solstice is the coldest day of the Winter. But it is not so. This Solstice only means that it is the day of the year when the daylight is there for the shortest duration. The hours of darkness are the longest.
• The astronomical specifications of winter vary from the details of this season shared by the Department of Meteorology. It’s meteorology that provides the actual winter temperatures, including information about days that are unusually cold.

Summer Solstice
Though the scope of this article is centered on the Winter Solstice, it won’t be out of place to include a few lines regarding the “Summer Solstice.” This Solstice is exactly the reverse of the Winter Solstice. Here, the tilt of a hemisphere takes it closest to the Sun. Hence, on the day of the Summer Solstice, the daylight is there for the longest duration.

It can be said that the Winter Solstice day of the Northern Hemisphere is the Southern Hemisphere’s day of Summer Solstice, and vice-versa.