Fact 1: The Shortest Day of the Year
December 21 frequently claims the title for the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Given that it is the winter solstice, December 21 experiences the fewest hours and minutes of sunlight during the entire year.
Fact 2: Winter Solstice Celebrations
Different cultures around the world have different ways to celebrate the winter solstice. In China, there is the Dongzhi Festival, which celebrates the coming of winter. A key tradition is to eat tangyuan, a sweet and sticky rice ball soup that symbolizes family unity.
Fact 3: The Meaning of Solstice
The term 'solstice' is derived from the Latin words 'sol' meaning 'sun' and 'sistere' meaning 'to stand still'. This is because the sun appears to pause in its journey across the sky before changing direction.
Fact 4: Druids’ Celebration
During the ancient times, Druids would cut mistletoe off of oak trees in a special ceremony five days after the new Moon following the winter solstice. To this day, mistletoe is considered a decoration symbolic of fortune and love.
Fact 5: The Great Conjunction 2020
On December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn came their closest in the night sky in almost 400 years, an event astronomers refer to as 'great conjunction.'
Fact 6: Different Lengths
While December 21 often has the shortest day of the year, that doesn't mean that each December 21 is the same. The length of the day can vary from year to year due to slight variations in the Earth's orbit.
Fact 7: Southern Hemisphere's Longest Day
While December 21 is the shortest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere, it's the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, in the Southern Hemisphere.
Fact 8: A Holiday for Sci-Fi Fans
Notably, December 21 is also Humbug Day and Phileas Fogg Win A Wager Day, both from popular science fiction 'Around the World in Eighty Days'.
Fact 9: The Start of Capricorn
Astrologically speaking, December 21 often marks the beginning of the sun sign Capricorn, which represents dedication, responsibility and a steadfast nature.
Fact 10: A Day for Tomatoes
Curiously, December 21 is recognized as National Hamburger Day in the USA, a fun and tasty reason for people to enjoy their favorite hamburger recipe.
Fact 11: Newgrange in Ireland
Dating back over 5000 years, the Winter Solstice sunlight illuminates the Interior of the chamber at Newgrange, Ireland, a phenomenal event that takes place on December 21.
Fact 12: Stonehenge's Special Alignment
Another remarkable structure, the ancient site of Stonehenge in England is aligned so precisely with the sunset on December 21 that it's believed to have been erected specifically for the winter solstice.
Fact 13: Cold Moon
The full Moon that appears in December is often referred to as the Cold Moon. Depending on the year, it might fall on or near December 21.
Fact 14: Return of the Sun
In many cultures, the winter solstice is seen as the "return" of the Sun as the days start to slowly get longer after December 21.
Fact 15: The Mayan Calendar
According to the Mayan Calendar, December 21, 2012 was regarded as the end-date of a 5,126-year-long cycle, leading to widespread predictions of catastrophe, though obviously, they didn’t come true.
Fact 16: The Yin and Yang
In Taoist philosophy, December 21 symbolizes the peak of the Yin force, which represents darkness and cold. Following this day, the Yang phase begins to grow, representing light and warmth.
Fact 17: Iran's Yalda Night
In Iran, the night of December 21 is celebrated as Yalda Night, the longest and darkest night of the year. People come together in the longest night of the year to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness.
Fact 18: A Day of Light Celebrations
Many winter solstice festivities centre around the theme of light, including the Scandinavian St.Lucia Day and India's Pancha Ganapati, a five-day festival in honor of Lord Ganesha.
Fact 19: Inversion Day
In Algeria and Tunisia, December 21 is known as Inversion Day. It signifies the point when daytime hours start to increase and nighttime hours start to decrease.
Fact 20: The Sweetness of the Solstice
Spanish tradition holds that bees hum on the winter solstice, and that honey becomes sweetest on that day. This belief dates back many centuries, adding a sweet note to the arrival of winter.