The First Day of Winter, also known as the Winter Solstice, marks the beginning of a season characterized by crisp air, glistening snow, and the warmth of holiday gatherings.
As we welcome the year’s longest night, it’s time to celebrate the beauty and serenity that winter brings.
The first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere is in December; south of the equator, it is in June.
Astronomical winter begins at the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year.
This means days get longer during winter—very slowly at first, but at ever-larger daily intervals as the March equinox approaches, heralding the start of spring.
Locations closer to the poles experience larger differences in day length throughout the year, so winter days are shorter there.
In Toronto, the shortest day is just under 8 hours and 56 minutes long; in Miami, roughly 2000 kilometers or 1200 miles farther south, it lasts about 10 hours and 32 minutes.
The First Day of Winter typically occurs on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2023, it falls on December 21, which is a Thursday.
For some, Friday, December 22, 2023 at 03:27 UTC, is generally accepted as Winter Solstice for Northwest Florida.
Either way, Happy Winter Solstice.
