Sunday, December 21st, was the Winter Solstice, the day with the shortest daylight hours and the longest night. It’s also known as the Hibernal Solstice.
As the planet travels around the sun, it does so at an angle. The Solstice is when the tilt is at it’s maximum. This happens twice a year—around June 21st and December 21st. Right now the Northern Hemisphere is furthest from the sun, while the Southern Hemisphere is closest, so they’re beginning summer. From here on out, in the Northern Hemisphere every day will now be a minute or two longer.
I must admit I’m not a fan of short days but it could be worse. In Barrow, Alaska, the sun set THIRTY-TWO SECONDS after it rose on November 20th and won’t rise again until January 23rd, and then for only NINETEEN SECONDS! On the other hand, in Puerto Williams, Chile, sunlight yesterday lasted for seventeen and a half hours, but then they are in the Southern Hemisphere where it is their SUMMER Solstice.
In the U.S., the further north you go, the shorter the days get. I have a niece who lives in Houston, Texas. Yesterday, the sun rose at 7:13 AM and set at 5:26 PM. My other niece lives in Maine and the sun rose at 7:11 AM and set at 4:46 PM, an hour and 26 minutes shorter day.
For us, here in Richmond, our sun rose on December 21st at 7:20 AM and set at 4:55 PM. By Christmas, the sun will rise at 7:23 AM and set at 4:57 PM, our day will be FIVE minutes longer. Every day from here on out, will be a minute or two longer all the way until the Summer Solstice on June 21st. Our day then will be 14 hours and 48 minutes long.
I can’t wait for summer! Happy Holidays!