Sky fact: Why is December 21 the shortest day of the year? And why do cultures from Stonehenge to Scandinavia celebrate it? In just 3 minutes, we break down the science, history, and traditions behind the winter solstice — from the Sun’s lowest arc in the sky to ancient Yule festivals and modern Christmas customs. Perfect for anyone curious about astronomy, seasonal change, or the meaning of midwinter.
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00:00Here's a sky fact to kick us off on the winter solstice, the sun takes its lowest arc across the northern sky, and noon is the lowest noon you'll see all year.
00:10Every year, around December 21st or 22nd, the northern hemisphere gets its shortest day and longest night.
00:18That's the winter solstice mid-winter when earth's 23.5 degree tilt leans us away from the Sunday.
00:25The sun isn't weaker, we're just tilted, so sunlight hits us at a shallower angle and for fewer hours.
00:32After this day, the light begins to return.
00:35Not instantly, fun fact, the earliest sunset happens a bit before the solstice, and the latest sunrise a bit after.
00:45But from here, the days slowly stretch longer, minute by minute.
00:50Humans have celebrated this turning point for a thousand of years.
00:54In northern Europe, you'll mark the promise of lights come back.
00:58People brought evergreens indoors, symbols of life through the dark and lit fires, or candles to call back the Sunday.
01:05Some of those traditions flowed right into Christmas reeds.
01:09Lights, feasting, gift-giving.
01:12In ancient Rome, Saturnalia flipped the script roll, reversals, parties, candles, illuminating long nights.
01:20Across Asia, many mark the rebalance of yin and yang at festivals like Dong Ji, sharing warm dumplings, and Tang Yuan.
01:29In Iran, Yalda night stretches into storytelling, and pomegranates until the first light.
01:37Different places, different customs, same message all on light returns, and then there are the stones.
01:42At Stonehenge in England, people gather at dawn to watch the solstice sun align with the ancient stones.
01:50It's not just vibes, the site is astronomically precise, built to track the sun's path.
01:55In Ireland, the passage tomb at Newgrange floods, with sunlight at sunrise and solstice, a beam of gold into a chamber sealing dark all year.
02:05Imagine building that alignment with nothing but careful eyes and patient seasons.
02:10So what can you do to mark the solstice?
02:13Step outside at solar noon, and notice how short your shadow is.
02:18Watch sunrise, or sunset, and see the sun hug the horizon.
02:23Light a candle, share a meal, or start a tiny tradition.
02:28Write one thing you're letting go off with the whole year, and one thing you'll nurture as the light returns.
02:34I like to think of the solstice as a quiet reset, a cosmic checkpoint, the year exhales.
02:40The dark feels deepest, but the pivots already happened.
02:44From here, each dawn leans a little brighter.
02:47Wherever you are, if you're in the northern hemisphere, tonight is the long night.
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