What is Winter Solstice?
Simply put, the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year.
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The word ‘Solstice’ is derived from a Latin word, ‘Sol’ meaning ‘Sun’ and ‘Sistre’ which translates to ‘Stands still’
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National Geographic says, “The winter solstice marks the exact moment when half of Earth is tilted the farthest away from the sun.”
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Winter solstice typically happens on the 21st or 22nd of December, at the same second around the world.
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The shortest day of the year is also the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
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On the shortest day of the year, the North Pole experiences 24 hours of night and the South Pole receives 24 hours of daylight.
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Astronomically, the winter solstice marks the beginning of the winter season, however, meteorologically, it begins on December 1.
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