Winter Solstice

 Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!

Well, Happy Winter Solstice to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere. What is the Winter Solstice, you may ask? Well, think of it as the opposite of the summer solstice. Whereas during the summer solstice, a place on Earth is tilted the furthest towards the sun, the winter solstice has a place on Earth tilted the furthest away from the sun. As a result, the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. December 21-22 is usually the date this happens in the Northern Hemisphere. 

This is because of a phenomenon known as axial tilt, or obliquity. It's because of this phenomenon that days are longer in the summers, and shorter in the winters. 

It's believed that humanity has been aware of the winter solstice as far back as the Neolithic era. The solstice is celebrated by various cultures all over the world. In China, it's celebrated as one of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms. In India, the festival Makar Sankranti, held in January, celebrates the beginning of longer days after the winter solstice. Countries in the Middle East like Iran and Iraq hold a Yalda Night, in which families gather together (usually at the homes of elders) and enjoy things like watermelons, pomegranates, and nuts. 

So, yeah. The winter solstice is quite a big deal. Hope yours was a good one. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!