Winter Solstice

It's that time of year again. Today is the shortest day of daylight of the year.

From now on til June, the days get longer.

We have no snow here in Minnesota and none in the forecast through the new year.  The last time we had a brown Christmas was 2006.  I'm ok with that since I know we will not go through the whole winter without snow.

Winter solstice

Today is the first day of winter. You couldn't tell that from here.

We already have about 28 inches of snow, and that's all before winter started!!

HERE is the other post I made about the winter solstice.

I bought a new pair of boots a week or so ago and have worn them. They are very warm!! So glad I bought them.

I hope you all have a great winter!!

Winter Solstice

Today is the winter solstice. The longest night of the year.

After today, the days start getting longer!!

Info

Winter Solstice
Mon., Dec. 21, 2009, 12:47 PM EST (17:47 UT), marks the solstice—the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere

The precise moment of the 2009 solstice will be Mon., Dec. 21, 12:47 PM EST.


In astronomy, the solstice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, the great circle on the celestial sphere that is on the same plane as the earth's equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs either June 20 or 21, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter and summer solstices are reversed.
Reason for the Seasons

The reason for the different seasons at opposite times of the year in the two hemispheres is that while the earth rotates about the sun, it also spins on its axis, which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. Because of this tilt, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight (creating winter) while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer). As the Earth continues its orbit the hemisphere that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons are reversed.
Longest Night of the Year

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, sun and -stitium, a stoppage. Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.