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A little reason to celebrate

Winter Solstice

Seasonal · Nature · December 21

The winter solstice brings the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and marks the astronomical start of winter.

Winter Solstice falls on Monday, December 21, 2026. That is 55 days away.

The winter solstice is the moment the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun. It brings the shortest stretch of daylight and the longest night of the year, and many people count it as the first day of winter. It also goes by the December Solstice.

The sun keeps a low path across the sky around now. At noon it sits lower than at any other time of year, so shadows stretch long even in the middle of the day. The farther north you live, the shorter the daylight gets. In parts of Alaska the sun barely clears the horizon, if it rises at all.

After the solstice the days slowly start to lengthen again. The change is tiny at first, a matter of seconds or a minute a day, but it adds up. For people who dislike leaving work in the dark, this is the turn they wait for.

Many people mark the day by paying attention to the light. They watch the sunrise or sunset, take a walk at midday to feel how low the sun is, or light candles once the early dark arrives. Others simply stay in, make something warm to eat, and let the long night be long.

In the Southern Hemisphere the same moment is the summer solstice, with the longest day of the year.

Ways to celebrate

• Watch the sunset and note how early it arrives.
• Take a noon walk and look at your long shadow.
• Light a candle or lamp when darkness falls.
• Cook a warm, slow meal for the long evening.
• Check tomorrow's sunrise time and see the days start lengthening.

Dates

All national days on December 21

Also on December 21

• National Crossword Puzzle Day
• National Coquito Day
• National French Fried Shrimp Day
• Humbug Day
• Don't Make Your Bed Day
• National Flashlight Day
• Look on the Bright Side Day

Categories: Seasonal daysNature days