winter solstice
December's darkest day
The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky.
In the Northern Hemisphere, it falls around December 21; in the Southern Hemisphere, around June 21.
The solstice marks the official start of winter and the moment after which days begin lengthening again.
Many cultures celebrate it as a turning point—the return of light.
Sun crosses celestial midline
- axial tiltRotational axis deviation
- eclipticSun's apparent annual path
- Tropic of CapricornSouthern solstice latitude marker
- perihelionOrbital point nearest sun
orbit · polar night · midnight sun · zenith · nadir · December · Capricorn · astronomical
Rome's December harvest celebration
- StonehengePrehistoric megalithic circle
- feastElaborate ceremonial meal
- festivitiesCelebratory events and activities
- ritualsCeremonial repeated practices
bonfire · gatherings · candles · traditions · ceremony · wassail · holly · evergreen
Year's minimum daylight
- longest nightMaximum darkness period yearly
- darknessTotal absence of light
- nightfallOnset of darkness
- twilightLight after sunset
dusk · gloaming · dawn · daylight · shadows · dimness · nocturnal · sundown
Thin ice coating
- snowfallPrecipitation of frozen crystals
- freezingExtremely cold
- icicleHanging frozen water spike
- blizzardViolent prolonged snowstorm
arctic · frigid · chill · frozen · cold snap · ice · sleet · bitter cold
Spiritual or physical regeneration
- renewalMaking current again
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- new beginningsChances to start again
- transformationThorough change in form
rekindling · reawakening · optimism · revival · cycle · turning point · death and rebirth
equinox
Sun crosses celestial midline
- axial tiltRotational axis deviation
- eclipticSun's apparent annual path
- Tropic of CapricornSouthern solstice latitude marker
perihelion · orbit · polar night · midnight sun · zenith · nadir · December · Capricorn · astronomical · hibernal
Saturnalia
Rome's December harvest celebration
- StonehengePrehistoric megalithic circle
- feastElaborate ceremonial meal
- festivitiesCelebratory events and activities
rituals · bonfire · gatherings · candles · traditions · ceremony · wassail · holly · evergreen · pagan
shortest day
Year's minimum daylight
- longest nightMaximum darkness period yearly
- darknessTotal absence of light
- nightfallOnset of darkness
twilight · dusk · gloaming · dawn · daylight · shadows · dimness · nocturnal · sundown · sunset
frost
Thin ice coating
blizzard · arctic · frigid · chill · frozen · cold snap · ice · sleet · bitter cold · subzero
rebirth
Spiritual or physical regeneration
- renewalMaking current again
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- new beginningsChances to start again
transformation · rekindling · reawakening · optimism · revival · cycle · turning point · death and rebirth
hearth
Fireplace floor area
thermals · hygge · candlelight · mulled wine · blankets · fireside · hot cocoa
- Calendar ThemesApril showers, September equinox, seasonal cycles, calendar art, spring equinox
- observancesholidays, holy days, commemorations, anniversaries, Remembrance Day
- Baltic paganismMara, thunder god, sun goddess, earth goddess, world tree
- Inca AstronomyPleiades, Southern Cross, sun worship, lunar cycles, moon phases
- wintersnow, ice, cold, frozen, frost
- holidaysChristmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Valentine's Day
winter solsticesummer solstice
Longest daylight of year
longest day · June solstice · midsummer · summer · midnight sun
winter solsticevernal equinox
Spring's astronomical beginning
spring equinox · equinox · summer solstice · autumnal equinox · fall equinox
winter, wintry, wintertime, winters, solstice, wintery, winterize, winterish, winterizing