The Winter Solstice 2025 is set to occur on December 21 at 15:03, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year to the northern hemisphere. While meteorological winter began on December 1, many mark the solstice as the official start of astronomical winter.
The word “solstice” comes from Latin, meaning “sun stands still.” During the solstice, the Sun appears to pause above the Tropic of Capricorn, giving the southern hemisphere its longest day while the north experiences reduced sunlight.
Earth’s 23.5-degree axial tilt causes the seasonal shift, and after the solstice, the Sun gradually moves north again, culminating in the summer solstice six months later. Equinoxes occur midway between the solstices, when day and night are roughly equal.
The solstice date varies slightly each year due to the Earth’s 365.24-day orbit, with leap years helping to keep the calendar aligned. Additional factors, such as small orbital changes and a wobble in the Earth’s axis, also influence the timing.
Daylight hours during the solstice depend on latitude. In the UK, the further north you are, the shorter the day. In areas above the Arctic Circle, the Sun may not rise at all.
Whether the winter solstice marks the start of winter depends on perspective. Meteorological winter begins on December 1 and runs through February, while astronomical winter starts on the solstice, determined by the Sun’s position relative to Earth.
From December 21 onward, northern hemisphere residents can look forward to gradually longer days, signaling the slow return of more sunlight
