The December solstice occurs when the sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees. In other words, it is when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. Depending on the Gregorian calendar, the December solstice occurs annually on a day between December 20 and December 23. On this date, all places above a latitude of 66.5 degrees north (Arctic Polar Circle) are now in darkness, while locations below a latitude of 66.5 degrees south (Antarctic Polar Circle) receive 24 hours of daylight.
Use the Sunrise and Sunset calculator to find the number of daylight hours during the December solstice in cities worldwide.
The sun is directly overhead on the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere during the December solstice. It also marks the longest day of the year in terms of daylight hours for those living south of the equator. Those living or travelling south from the Antarctic Circle towards the South Pole will see the midnight sun during this time of the year.
On the contrary, for an observer in the northern hemisphere, the December solstice marks the day of the year with the least hours of daylight. Those living or traveling north of the Arctic Circle towards the North Pole will not be able to see the sun during this time of the year.
Winter Around the World: Winter Solstice and Yule
Whether you observe
Yule, Christmas, Sol Invictus, or Hogmanay, the winter season is
typically a time of celebration around the world. Traditions vary widely
from one country to the next, but one thing they all have in common is
the observance of customs around the time of the winter solstice. Here
are some ways that residents of different countries observe the season.
Australia:
Althought
Australia is huge geographically, the population sits at under 20
million people. Many of them come from a blend of cultures and ethnic
backgrounds, and celebration in December is often a mix of many
different elements. Because Australia is in the southern hemisphere,
December is part of the warm season. Residents still hhave Christmas
trees, Father Christmas, Christmas Carols and gifts which are a familiar
Christmas and gifts, as well as being visited by Father Christmas.
Because it coincides with school holidays, it's not uncommon for
Australians to celebrate the season on vacation away from home.
China:
In
China, only about two percent of the population observes Christmas as a
religious holiday, although it is gaining in popularity as a commercial
event. However, the main winter festival in China is New Year
celebration that occurs at the end of January. Recently, it's become
known as the Spring Festival, and is a time of gift-giving and feasting.
A key aspect of the Chinese New Year is ancestor worship, and painings and portraits are brought out and honored in the family's home.
Denmark:
In
Denmark, Christmas Eve dinner is a big cause for celebration. The most
anticipated part of the meal is the traditional rice pudding, baked with
a single almond inside. Whichever guest gets the almond in his pudding
is guaranteed good luck for the coming year. Children leave out glasses
of milk for the Juulnisse, which are elves that live in peoples' homes, and for Julemanden, the Danish version of Santa Claus.
Finland:
The
Finns have a tradition of resting and relaxing on Christmas Day. The
night before, on Christmas Eve, is really the time of the big feast --
and leftovers are consumed the next day. On December 26, the day of St.
Stephen the Martyr, everyone goes out and visits friends and relatives,
weather permitting. One fun custom is that of Glogg parties, which
involve the drinking of Glogg, a mulled wine made from Madeira, and the
eating of lots of baked treats.
Greece:
Christmas
was typically not a huge holiday in Greece, as it is in North America.
However, the recognition of St. Nicholas has always been important,
because he was the patron saint of sailors, among other things. Hearth
fires burn for several days between December 25 and January 6, and a
sprig of basil is wrapped around a wooden cross to protect the home from
the Killantzaroi, which are negative spirits that only appear
during the twelve days after Christmas. Gifts are exchanged on January
1, which is St. Basil's day.
India:
India's
Hindu population typically observes this time of year by placing clay
oil lamps on the roof in honor of the return of the sun. The country's
Christians celebrate by decorating mango and banana trees, and adorning
homes with red flowers, such as the poinsettia. Gifts are exchanged with
family and friends, and baksheesh, or charity, is given to the poor and needy.
Italy:
In
Italy, there is the legend of La Befana, a kind old witch who travels
the earth giving gifts to children. It is said that the three Magi
stopped on their way to Bethlehem and asked her for shelter for a night.
She rejected them, but later realized she'd been quite rude. However,
when she went to call them back, they had gone. Now she travels the
world, searching, and delivering gifts to all the children.
Romania:
In
Romania, people still observe an old fertility ritual which probably
pre-dates Christianity. A woman bakes a confection called a turta, made
of pastry dough and filled with melted sugar and honey. Before baking
the cake, as the wife is kneading the dough, she follows her husband
outdoors. The man goes from one barren tree to another, threatening to
cut each down. Each time, the wife begs him to spare the tree, saying,
"Oh no, I am sure this tree will be as heavy with fruit next spring as
my fingers are with dough today." The man relents, the wife bakes the
turta, and the trees are spared for another year.
Scotland:
In Scotland, the big holiday is that of Hogmanay.
On Hogmanay, which is observed on December 31, festivities typically
spill over into the first couple of days of January. There's a tradition
known as "first-footing", in which the first person to cross a home's
threshold brings the residents good luck for the coming year -- as long
as the guest is dark-haired and male. The tradition stems from back when
a red- or blonde-haired stranger was probably an invading Norseman.