IF you thought it couldn’t get any colder or darker then you would be wrong as today marks the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.
The winter solstice marks the moment the sun is exactly above the Tropic of Cancer, which is one of the major circles of latitude on Earth.
It’s also known as the official start of winter and the day is almost nine hours shorter than the longest day of the year.
Despite being a gloomy weather and dark day for those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, the annual December event does signify a shift to longer days and shorter nights ahead.
When is the winter solstice 2017?
The date of the winter solstice is not fixed and can take place on December 20, 21, 22, or 23.
This year it falls on Thursday December 21 when sunrise is at 8.03am GMT and sunset is at 3.53pm GMT.
This means there will be only seven hours and 50 minutes of daylight in total.
Thousands flock to Stonehenge to celebrate Winter Solstice
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In fact, the first day of winter depends on whether you are referring to the astronomical or meteorological winter.
Astronomers mark the start of the winter season, which typically starts on December 21 and ends on March 19, by the earth’s orbit around the sun.
The meteorological winter, which uses temperature as its measurement, began this year on December 1 and will end on February 28, 2018.
UK temperatures could rise before falling again in December
Who celebrates the winter solstice?
The winter solstice is one of the oldest pagan celebrations in the world.
It was celebrated in Britain by Celtic priests, known commonly as the Druids, long before the arrival of Christianity.
Today, hundreds gather each year at prehistoric monument and sacred site Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, to celebrate the solstice.
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