When is the first day of winter? In 2026, the winter solstice date is Monday, December 21. So, what is the winter solstice, and why does it happen? Learn all about the shortest day of the year.
When Is the Winter Solstice?
The first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere is marked by the winter solstice, which occurs on Monday, December 21, 2026, at 3:50 P.M. (EST).
For the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs every year between December 20 and 23, most often on December 20 or 21. (The Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice occurs in June.)
The winter solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight throughout the year, making it the shortest day of the year. Thankfully, after we reach the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and longer again until we reach the summer solstice—the first day of summer and the longest day of the year.
Colder, but sunnier
Think of it this way: Although the winter solstice means the start of winter, it also means the return of more sunlight. It only gets brighter from here!
The winter solstice is significant across cultures, signaling the changing of the seasons. Some ancient peoples marked the solstice using huge stone structures, like Newgrange in Ireland.
The word solstice comes from the Latin sol, meaning Sun, and sistere meaning to stand still. Loosely translated, solstice means “Sun stands still.” Why? The Sun’s path across the sky appears to freeze for a few days before and after the solstice. The change in its noontime elevation is so slight that the Sun’s path seems to stay the same or stand still.
The day after the winter solstice, the Sun’s path begins to advance northward again, eventually reaching its most northerly point on the day of the summer solstice.
How can we observe the effects of solstice ourselves? On the solstice day, stand outside at noon and look at your shadow. It’s the longest shadow that you’ll cast all year! Do this again on the day of the summer solstice, and you’ll see almost no shadow.
Source: almanac.com
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