Astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere begins on December 21, the day of the winter solstice, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year. This day has been accompanied by various cultural celebrations throughout history, including the ancient Roman Saturnalia.
At the time of the winter solstice, the Earth’s north pole is tilted the most away from the Sun, causing the Sun to occupy its southernmost position in the sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
Despite this, meteorological and calendar winter begin on December 1. And the good news for those living in the Northern Hemisphere is that from this moment on, the Sun will rise higher at noon each day, and the days will gradually begin to lengthen.
