Winter Solstice Marks Shortest Day in Northern Hemisphere

The Southern Hemisphere experiences its longest day, marking the beginning of summer.

The winter solstice, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, occurred on Thursday, December 21, 2023.
The exact time of the 2023 winter solstice worldwide was 3:27 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) Thursday.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the December solstice marks the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer.
The solstice is a result of Earth's axial tilt, which causes different parts of Earth to receive sunlight for different lengths of time throughout the year.
Many cultures and religions celebrate holidays that coincide with the return of longer days, symbolizing the opportunity for renewal.