December 21; Shortest day of the year!

December 21 is a special day - the winter solstice. This is the shortest day of the year and the longest night for people living in the Northern Hemisphere. Let's learn more about it.

What is the Winter Solstice?

The winter solstice occurs when the Earth is tilted away from the sun. This means that places north of the equator get the least amount of sunlight throughout the year.

What Happens on December 21?

December 21 is a very short day and a very long night. Places close to the North Pole, like Alaska, get hardly any sunlight, while places more south, like Florida, get a little bit.

Although December 21 is considered the darkest day, after this day, each successive day will start to lighten up a little. Eventually, on June 20, 2025, we will experience the long day of the year.

Marking the Winter Solstice

We can mark the winter solstice by:
Lighting up candles or festive lights to signal the return of sunlight
Spending some time out in nature
Reflecting on the previous year, and making some resolutions on how to use the longer days better. It is the winter solstice, after all. It's a time to remind ourselves that there's always hope for brighter days, even in the dark.

Also read: December 19 holiday for schools, colleges and offices here!