Winter Solstice

[Administrator]

What is Winter Solstice? Briefly Described below.

The first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere is marked by the winter solstice. When one of the Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun, it is the winter solstice, also known as the hibernal solstice. Twice a year, this occurs, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). The winter solstice, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum height in the sky, is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year for that hemisphere. Either pole's winter solstice is surrounded by twilight or perpetual darkness. The summer solstice is the opposite occasion.

The hemisphere's winter is when the winter solstice occurs. This is the June solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and the December solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (typically on the 21st or 22nd of December) (usually 20th or 21st of June). Even though the winter solstice only lasts for a brief period of time, the phrase also applies to the day it happens. Although it has many meanings, the phrase "midwinter" is also used to refer to the winter solstice. The winter solstice is traditionally observed as the middle of winter in many temperate locations, while it is now observed as the start of winter in other nations and on some calendars. Other titles include the "shortest day" or the "winter extreme" (Dongzhi).

Since prehistory, numerous societies have celebrated and ritualised the winter solstice as a crucial time of year.  It symbolised the Sun's symbolic demise and rebirth; the gradually dwindling number of daylight hours is turned around and starts to increase once more. Some ancient structures, including Newgrange, Stonehenge, and Cahokia Woodhenge, are oriented with the winter solstice's dawn or sunset.

Winter solstice viewed at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California, USA.

Watch Video for more details for 2022-