|
|
 |
|
|
The winter solstice occurs
at the instant when the Sun's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial
plane from the observer. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the event of the winter solstice occurs some time between
December 20 and December 23 each year in the northern hemisphere, and between June 20 and June 23 in the southern hemisphere,
during either the shortest day or the longest night of the year, which is not to be confused with the darkest day or night
or the day with the earliest sunset or latest sunrise. The seasonal significance
of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradually lengthening nights and shortening days. How cultures define this
is varied, since it is sometimes said to astronomically mark either the beginning or middle of a hemisphere's winter. Winter
is a subjective term, so there is no scientifically established beginning or middle of winter but the winter solstice itself
is clearly calculated to within a second. Though the winter solstice lasts an instant, the term is also colloquially used
to refer to the full 24-hour period. Worldwide, interpretation
of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held recognition of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals,
gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time. The word solstice derives
from Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
