Winter Solstice 2023: Winter solstice is the 1st day of winter and also shortest day of the year, always lands on Dec. 21

As the holiday lights and season of cheer illuminate our surroundings, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the darkest day of the year is quickly approaching on Dec. 21.

With the Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice just around the corner, it’s important to understand the significance of the shortest day of the year for the more than 6 billion people living north of the equator.

What is the winter solstice?

This year’s winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere will occur on Thursday, Dec. 21, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year. Solstices occur twice a year when “the sun’s path appears farthest north or south, depending on which half of the planet you’re on,” according to NASA.

The winter solstice occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted the furthest away from the sun due to the Earth’s tilt, which will happen at 10:27 p.m. ET. At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere will experience the most direct sunlight.

Is Dec. 21 the shortest day of the year?

For those in the United States, the lack of direct sunlight on Dec. 21 makes it the shortest day of the year. “All locations north of the equator see daylight shorter than 12 hours and all locations south see daylight longer than 12 hours,” according to NASA.

Why is the winter solstice known as the first day of winter?

The two solstices mark the beginning of the astronomical winter and summer seasons.

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, the astronomical seasons are defined by solstices and equinoxes, which are points when the sun aligns over the equator. In contrast, meteorological seasons are based on temperature cycles and are closely tied to the monthly civil calendar.

What happens after the winter solstice?

Following the winter solstice, each day in the Northern Hemisphere will have more daylight until the summer solstice on June 20, 2024.

How have humans recognized the winter solstice?

Ancient civilizations have long recognized the significance of solstices. Structures like Stonehenge and the Torreon in Machu Picchu, Peru were designed to align with the sun’s path relative to the Earth, according to NASA.