New Delhi: The season of winter is here and so is the time for the winter solstice. Also known as the hibernal solstice, it takes places when one of the poles of the Earth is the farthest from the Sun. It takes place twice every year, once in the Northern Hemisphere and once in the Southern Hemisphere. During winter solstice, we experience shortest period of daylight and the year’s longest night, and on this day, the Sun is at its lowest maximum elevation in the sky. The opposite of the winter solstice is summer solstice.
When does the winter solstice take place?
The winter solstice takes place during the winter of the hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it takes place on December 21 or December 22 or December 23 and this year it is taking place on December 21. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is also called the December solstice. In the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs on June 20, June 21, or June 22 and hence is also known as the June solstice. The winter solstice lasts only a moment but it refers to the day of the occurrence. Sometimes, it is also known as the midwinter even though it has other meanings.
How does the winter solstice take place?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice takes place when the pole is tilted about 23.4 degrees away from the Sun. After about six months, the South Pole is inclined at about 23.4 degrees away from the Sun. Also, the winter solstice signals the beginning of winter as per many astronomical definitions. Once the solstice is over, the days get longer.
The cultural significance of the winter solstice
The winter solstice has been deemed significant in many cultures since prehistory and many festivals and rites take place at that time. One significant reason for that is that the daylight hours shorten and the daytime period begins to grow longer. In some parts of Europe, the winter solstice was seen as the Sun’s symbolic death and rebirth. In ancient times, the day was used for farming, sowing of crops, mating of animals, and the monitoring of winter reserves of food. Livestock were slaughtered on that day, leading to the plentiful availability of fresh meat.
The winter solstice, also known as the hibernal solstice, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. Occurring on December 21 (Northern Hemisphere) or June 21 (Southern Hemisphere), it signifies the astronomical beginning of winter. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
