A collection of important things you should know about the winter solstice

Arab Weather - The winter solstice is known as the day on which winter begins astronomically. The winter solstice is characterized by the shortest day of the year and the longest hours of night. This year, the winter solstice will begin on Sunday, December 21, 2025, God willing.

What does the winter solstice mean?

As for the word “solstice,” it refers to the reversal of the sun on that day, when the sun stops in its apparent path in the sky of the earth, before reversing its direction. On the day of the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, the sun apparently reaches its farthest point in the southern sky, and then it reverses its direction and begins to deviate towards the north.

The shortest day and the longest night, but not the coldest day.

On the winter solstice, the sun travels its shortest daily path across the Earth's sky, so it shines for the fewest hours on the day. Therefore, those regions experience their shortest day on the winter solstice. However, the winter solstice is not the coldest day of the year. Other factors control temperatures in different regions, such as the region's latitude, weather patterns in that region, and the amount of snow cover. But temperatures begin to drop, and the weeks following the winter solstice are the coldest of the year.

Winter solstice date in both hemispheres of the Earth

Northern Hemisphere:

The winter solstice occurs in the northern hemisphere (which includes most of the world's population) between December 21 and 22 of each year, when the Earth's axis tilts away from the sun, and the sun's rays are at their maximum tilt in the northern hemisphere, as they are perpendicular at noon to the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at a latitude of 23.3 degrees south of the equator.

The southern hemisphere of the Earth:

The situation is completely reversed in the southern hemisphere, where December 21st marks the beginning of summer in the southern hemisphere. The winter solstice in the southern hemisphere occurs between June 20th and 21st, when the Earth's axis tilts towards the sun, so the sun's rays are perpendicular at noon to the Tropic of Cancer, which is located at a latitude of 23.3 degrees north of the equator, and this marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere.

Is the winter solstice considered the actual beginning of winter?

It is worth mentioning here that the winter solstice is considered the beginning of winter astronomically, because the four seasons depend astronomically on the Earth's position relative to the sun and the direction of its axis tilt. In meteorology, the beginnings of the seasons change depending on the annual thermal cycle and climatic patterns. For example, winter begins in the northern hemisphere with the beginning of December and ends with the end of February. Meteorology remains important in studying the beginnings of the seasons based on average annual temperatures, due to their closeness to what actually happens on the ground. This is of great importance to various sectors, such as the agricultural and industrial sectors, and others.

The importance of the winter solstice

The winter solstice is an important event for regions located at the poles of the globe. When the northern winter solstice occurs, the Earth's north pole is at its greatest tilt away from the sun, and consequently, the regions located there are plunged into complete darkness for several months.

On the day of the winter solstice, dawn is delayed, and the sun rises from the far southeast. In the following days, the apparent path of the sun begins to move northward due to the movement of the earth on its axis around the sun, and the hours of daylight begin to gradually increase until they are equal to the hours of night by the spring equinox in March. This is useful in calculating prayer times and fasting hours for Muslims around the world.

The winter solstice is also a special day for many cultures. After this day, the days begin to lengthen and the nights shorten, so the solstice is celebrated in many cultures as a time of rebirth.

The shadow at midday is the longest of the year.

Because the sun is at its lowest point in the sky on this day, you will notice that your shadow at noon is the longest of the year, while the shadow at noon on the summer solstice in June is the shortest of the year.

Celebrating the Winter Solstice

Many people around the world celebrate the winter solstice in different ways. Examples of historical landmarks and places people go to celebrate include the Stonehenge monument near Wiltshire, England, which sees an annual influx of people and tourists from all over the world to witness the phenomenon of the solstice. The fame of Stonehenge is due to the line of sight it forms with the setting sun on the winter solstice. Some people who still believe in pagan rituals also go to the place to celebrate the new solar year.

In the ancient city of Tulum, located on the Yucata Peninsula in Mexico, there is a monument dedicated to celebrating the winter solstice, where tourists come to enjoy watching the sun on that day as its rays pass through a small hole in one of the large stone buildings, creating a breathtaking view of the place.