The shortest day of 2024. When will it be?

What is the winter solstice? Why does it fall on different dates in different years? And who celebrates this event? Let’s find out.

December 21, 2024, marks the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
Source: Universe Space Tech

For the northern regions of the planet, the winter solstice marks the shortest daylight hours of the year. At this point, astronomical winter begins, a phenomenon different from meteorological winter. For centuries, this date has been accompanied by rituals, legends, and celebrations in many cultures around the world.

When will the winter solstice take place?

The Sun does not always rise in the same place. During the year, its position in the east shifts from south to north. This phenomenon is especially noticeable in the solstices. For example, today, on the winter solstice, the Sun rises most southerly. This means that the Northern Hemisphere has the shortest day and the longest night. Source: Universe Space Tech

In 2024, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will take place on Saturday, December 21, at 11:20 a.m. Kyiv time. It is at this point that the North Pole will be maximally tilted in the direction opposite to the Sun.

On this day, the Sun culminates at its lowest position above the horizon, making the daylight hours as short as possible. In the Southern Hemisphere, on the contrary, the day will be the longest, as the Sun rises to its highest point in the sky.

Does the winter solstice always fall on the same date?

Winter in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Source: Nataliya Vashyna

Not really. Although the winter solstice happens every year, the exact date can vary. This is because one complete revolution of the Earth around the Sun lasts a little longer than 365 days – about a quarter of a day. Because of this, we add one extra day every four years (leap year), which affects the dates of astronomical events. Usually, the winter solstice is on December 21 or 22.

How long is the shortest day of the year?

Imagine being able to see the whole sky at once for an entire year. That is exactly what is depicted in the picture. A camera took pictures of the sky over the Netherlands every 15 minutes for a year. From these pictures, they created a special infographic that shows how the sky changes. The daytime sky is blue and the night sky is dark with moon streaks. The shortest nights are in summer and the longest nights are in winter. The photo also shows when day equals night.
Source: Cees Bassa (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy)

The length of the shortest day depends on your geographical location.

For example:

In London on December 21, the length of the day is 7 hours 49 minutes 41 seconds. This is less than half the daylight hours at the summer solstice!
In Iceland, the day is even shorter, with only 4 hours and 7 minutes between sunrise and sunset in Reykjavik.
In Kyiv on December 21, the daylight hours last 8 hours and 4 minutes.

For those who live closer to the equator, the difference between daylight hours throughout the year is minimal.

Interestingly, even on the day of the winter solstice, you will not see the latest sunrise or the earliest sunset. For example, the morning will continue to get darker for a few days after December 21, and the earliest sunset has already taken place before that date.

What is the solstice?

The term “solstice” comes from the fact that at this time the Sun seems to “stop” in its motion along the horizon – at the point where it rises and sets.

The Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees perpendicular to the plane of its orbit. This tilt affects how high the Sun rises in the sky during the year. On the day of the winter solstice, the maximum height of the Sun’s rise above the horizon is the lowest of all during the year.

At this moment, the North Pole is maximally tilted away from the Sun, so it is cold and dark in the regions of the north. At the same time, summer begins in the Southern Hemisphere, where the pole is pointing toward the Sun.

Why is the winter solstice so important?

The Winter Solstice is not only an astronomical phenomenon but also an event that has left a significant trace in the culture and history of mankind. In many peoples of the world this day symbolizes the transition from darkness to light, the beginning of a new cycle.

The winter solstice gave us an amazing sight – complex solar halos in the sky over Sweden. These light circles and pillars appear when sunlight is refracted in ice crystals in the atmosphere. Usually, such halos are simpler, but this time it was possible to photograph a very rare combination of different light effects. Scientists believe that their appearance was triggered by snow guns at a ski resort. Source: NASA APOD / Magnus Edback

For example:

Ancient Rome celebrated Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to the god Saturn.
Scandinavian countries celebrated Yule, the festival of the return of light.
In the modern world, the winter solstice is also celebrated, specifically, most winter holidays fall on the days before and after the solstice.

Does the winter solstice affect people’s lives?

Although it is only one day a year, the winter solstice symbolizes the beginning of a new astronomical cycle. Although it does not affect our physical well-being, for many people this day becomes an opportunity to reflect on the balance in nature, their goals, and the changes that time brings.

Winter Solstice. When will the shortest day of 2024 occur? Infographic