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What to know about the official start of winter
The USA has seen some chilly climate lately, and a few areas have been downright freezing earlier than winter had even began. Now, the winter solstice, Saturday, Dec. twenty first, is upon us.
Will probably be each the shortest day and longest night time of 2024.
The solstice additionally marks the beginning of the Pagan vacation, Yuletide, in accordance with the Outdated Farmer’s Almanac. The vacation is believed to rejoice the solar’s return and the land’s rebirth as days start to get longer after the longest night time of the 12 months.
The solstice is well known by many as a time of rebirth and alter. Many cultures all through human historical past have noticed the shift in season as an essential image, and other people of various faiths proceed to acknowledge it in the present day.
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What’s the winter solstice?
The winter solstice ushers within the astronomical winter within the Northern Hemisphere. In the meantime, the Southern Hemisphere will greet summertime with the summer time solstice.
The additional lengthy night time and brief day happen due to the Earth’s tilt from the solar. Through the winter solstice, the lean brings the Earth to its farthest level from the solar, leading to much less daylight. The solstice itself solely lasts moments, in accordance with the Outdated Farmer’s Almanac, within the “actual second when a hemisphere is tilted as distant from the solar as attainable.”
What date does the solstice often fall on?
The date of the winter solstice can fall at any level between Dec. 20 and 23, relying on the 12 months, however the twenty first and twenty second are the most typical.
In 2023, the solstice fell on the identical date however a unique day, Thursday, Dec. twenty first.
Stonehenge and the Solstice
A number of areas world wide are significantly identified for celebrating the solstice, together with Newgrange in Eire. Solstices are sometimes related to pagan religions and draw revelers of various faiths.
One of the vital well-known solstice celebrations happens on the historic Stonehenge ruins in Wiltshire, England, the place many collect to herald the season.
Many theories exist as to the unique objective of Stonehenge, together with a burial website, astronomical observatory, spiritual or worship website, some form of gesture or image, or a spot of formality or therapeutic. Regardless, it has been the topic of many myths, tales, and folklore.
It was in the course of the twentieth century that Stonehenge turned a website of spiritual significance to individuals who subscribed to New Age beliefs, together with Neopaganism and Neo-Druids. When constructed, the stone circle was aligned with the solar, and to today, 1000’s of individuals collect to witness the second the solar peeks completely via its pillars.
There could be no Christmas tree with out Pagans
Lots of the practices we affiliate with Christmas in the present day got here from pagan celebrations of the solstice, equivalent to Christmas bushes and wreaths, which originated from the celebration of Yuletide. The solstice has been revered by human cultures all through historical past, and it’s honored as a illustration of recent beginnings as folks welcome within the subsequent season.
Pagans nonetheless come by the 1000’s to Stonehenge, the prehistoric ruins of a monument constructed from round 3100 to 1600 BC. It is likely one of the most well-known landmarks within the UK, however there’s little identified in regards to the civilization that constructed it or why, as these historic peoples left no written data behind.
Contributing: Maxwell Hauptman, USA TODAY
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