In Photos: Winter Solstice Celebrations Around the World
On 12/20/20 at 11:00 AM EST
In a year that has seemed far too dark, on December 21, winter solstice, we will be that much closer to saying goodbye to 4 p.m. sunsets and welcoming back the sun. Every year around this time, the first day of winter is celebrated by bidding adieu to shorter, colder days and inching closer to spring.
What is the winter solstice? It occurs every year when the Earth is tilted the furthest away from the sun leading to the year's shortest day and longest night. It also indicates the first official day of winter. The phenomenon happens twice a year in each hemisphere and while for some it might just be the beginning of the end of much-too-early sunsets, for some cultures it signifies much more.