Solstice Definition & Meaning

• Origin of the word: The word solstice is derived from the Latin word for sun called sol, and sistere, which means “to come to a stop or make stand”.
  • A solstice is a phenomenon that occurs when the sun reaches its lowest or highest point in the sky during the year as a result of the Earth’s axis tilting to or away from the sun.
  • Although the winter solstice itself lasts only for a moment, the term usually refers to the day on which it occurs.

What is the Winter Solstice?

Winter Solstice also known as hibernal solstice, marks the official onset of winters in the Northern Hemisphere when Earth’s northern axis faces away from the sun. 

• The effect of which is shorter days and longer nights in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Occurrence: Similarly, the winter solstice for the southern hemisphere occurs in June while the northern hemisphere experiences summer solstice.
  • In temperate areas, the winter solstice is seen as the middle of winter, while in some countries and calendars, it is seen as the beginning of winter.

Winter Solstice Mechanism of Occurrence

• Earth’s Position: Planet Earth not only revolves but also rotates around the sun which results in a change of seasons and day and night, respectively. 
  • This rotational axis of Earth is not straight but tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the sun.
• Earth’s Pole: During the winter solstice, the part of Earth containing the northern hemisphere, leans farthest away from the sun.
• Effect: As a result of this tilt, sunlight needs to travel through more of the earth’s atmosphere, making it weaker and spreading out.
  • Due to this phenomenon, the temperature of Earth gets colder, and we experience shorter days and longer nights.

Significance of Winter Solstice

• Cultural: 
  • Festivals: For people of northern Europe, including the Faroe Islands Estonia, and Germany, the event is celebrated as Yule.
    • Yule was also celebrated by the Norse people, and also by Anglo-Saxon pagans. Practices of Yule logs and decorating trees are now adopted by Christians.
    • Makar Sankranti festival is celebrated in India, marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days.
    • Iranians celebrate winter solstice as Yalda night, which is known to be the longest and darkest night of the year. It involves family gathering together, usually at the house of the eldest, and celebrating it by eating, drinking, and reciting poetry.
  • Symbolic Sun’s Cycle: Winter solstice was seen as the symbolic death and rebirth of the sun or of a sun god.
  • Myths and Legends: In the Finnish myth, Louhi steals the sun and the moon away, holding them captive inside a mountain, causing the daylight to wane leading up to the Winter Solstice.
  • Monuments: Winter solstice is closely associated with pre-historic monuments such as Newgrange, Stonehenge, and Cahokia Woodhenge.
• Agriculture and Food: 
  • Starvation: The winter solstice marks a period of starvation that remains for the first months of the winter, January to April (northern hemisphere) or July to October (southern hemisphere), called as “the famine months”. 
  • Animal Slaughtering: Most of the cattle were slaughtered post-winter solstice so that they need not be fed during tough winter months.
• Geographical:
  • Shortest Day: The winter solstice marks the shortest day for the northern hemisphere while it marks the longest period of sunlight for people in the southern hemisphere.
  • Period of Continuous Darkness: Each polar region experiences a period of long darkness or twilight during its winter solstice.

Earth’s Seasons

• Cause: The Earth not only revolves around the sun but also rotates on its own axis. The earth’s spin axis is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. 
• Occurrence: When the axis points towards the sun, it is the summer season for that hemisphere. When the earth’s axis points away, it is winter. 
  • Since the tilt of the axis is 23.5 degrees, the North Pole does not directly point at the Sun, but points as close as it can during the summer solstice, and on the winter solstice as far as it can. 
  • In between these two times, in spring and autumn, the spin axis of the earth points 90 degrees away from the sun. During this time, day and night have about the same length.

Significance of Changing Seasons

• Weather Conditions:  Changing weather seasons affect soil moisture, evaporation rates, river flows, lake levels, and snow cover.
• Vegetation: During the dry season, the plant growth is affected. Changes in vegetation affect the type and amount of food available for humans and other organisms. 
• Animal Behaviour: Changes in seasons affect animal behaviour, including mating, migration, hibernation, food habits, etc.
• Festivals: Seasons are closely associated with the cultures and lifestyles of people. People celebrate festivals based on seasons.
• Food Patterns: Seasons and human food habits have a close relationship. Every season has unique food recipes that are prepared and consumed.
• Distribution of Heat: Changing seasons are important for the distribution of light and heat on the planet and play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s temperature.

Conclusion

Winter Solstice is an annual event that marks the beginning of winter in many cultures across the world. It also brings in many changes related to weather and lifestyle.

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