Each of us has noticed more than once that in winter the Sun rises later and sets much earlier than in summer. The days at this time are the shortest of the entire year, but among them there is one day that is shorter than all the others.
What number does it fall on? How long does it last? And why does this happen? The answers to these questions are simple and have been known for a long time. The reason for the shortest day is a natural phenomenon, called the winter solstice.
What is solstice?
Solstice is understood as an event during which the Sun passes through the cross-sectional points of the celestial sphere that are maximally distant from its equator. In other words, the shortest day occurs at the moment when the angle of deviation of its axis from the Sun becomes highest value.
In simple terms, with the onset of autumn, the Sun sets lower and lower towards the horizon, and the days become shorter and shorter. Over time, it reaches its lowest point, stops above the horizon, and then begins to rise. The day when the Sun is at its lowest point is the shortest.
Since ancient times, this event was considered the most important milestone in the annual cycle and played a significant role in people's lives. Many nations, based on the solstice, compiled annual calendars and organized holidays and feasts. 
In Rus', the shortest day was celebrated by celebrating the Solstice, which, according to the ancient Slavs, was the birthday of the Sun.
When is the solstice?
In general, solstice occurs 2 times a year - in winter and summer, but if in winter we see the shortest day, then in summer we see the longest. At the summer solstice, the altitude of our star becomes the highest, and the angle of the planet’s rotation axis takes on the smallest value.
That is, if by winter the Sun drops to lowest point, and then rises again above the horizon, then by summer, on the contrary, it reaches the highest point, and then begins to fall. The timing of this event varies by hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs in December, and the summer solstice in July. In the southern hemisphere, the opposite happens.
What day is the shortest of the year?
Day winter solstice may fall on different dates: in the northern hemisphere - on December 21 or 22, in the southern hemisphere - on July 20 or 21. It all depends on the calendar shift and the type of year - regular or leap year. 
The date of the shortest day was first established in 45 BC by the commander Julius Caesar. Then the astronomical event took place on December 25.
Over the past two thousand years, this date has changed several times, since every 400 years the solstice moves by about 3 days. In particular, by the 16th century the Sun was lowest above the horizon on December 12, that is, the difference from the original date was 13 days.
At the end of the 16th century, the Pope Gregory XIII decided to harmonize the civil and seasonal calendars. He annulled the 10-day shift that occurred from the 4th to the 17th centuries, but did not take into account the 3-day shift that occurred from 45 BC until the 4th century. As a result, according to the Julian calendar, the winter solstice began to be celebrated on December 21–22.
How long is the shortest day?
Day length at the winter solstice varies depending on latitude. It is generally accepted that in the central regions of the northern hemisphere it lasts 5 hours 53 minutes. This figure can vary significantly in different areas of the world.
For example, in areas located on the equator, day is almost equal to night. In the area of the Arabian Peninsula it lasts about 11 hours, and in Moscow – approximately 6 hours 56 minutes. 
In regions located in the northern Arctic, the Sun may not rise above the horizon at all, that is, during this period there is a polar night. In areas located beyond the Antarctic Circle, everything happens the other way around - on December 21, polar day reigns there, and the Sun does not set throughout the day.
Thus, the closer to the equator in the northern hemisphere, the longer the shortest day, and the closer to the equator in the southern hemisphere, the shorter it is.
The longest day of the year is the day summer solstice. It will be followed by the most short night per year.
On this day, the height of the Sun in the sky is the highest. This results in the longest days and shortest nights in Earth's northern hemisphere and the shortest days and longest nights in the southern hemisphere.
It turns out that for residents of the northern hemisphere, astronomical summer begins on this day, while for residents of the southern hemisphere, astronomical winter begins.
The date of the summer solstice depends on shifts in the calendar and leap year. As a rule, it falls on June 21-22.
Solstice date from 2014 to 2020
- 2014 - June 21
- 2015 - June 21
- 2016 – June 20
- 2017 – June 21
- 2018 – June 21
- 2019 – June 21
- 2020 – June 20
Longitude daylight hours on the longest day of the year at northern latitude is about 17.5 hours. And the night, as a rule, lasts approximately 6 hours.
The summer solstice holiday was considered a special, magical day for pagans. In ancient times, the Sun was deified; people believed that it had power over all living things. Therefore, the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere meant the highest flowering of the forces of nature.
In Rus', long before the adoption of Christianity, this day was celebrated Ivan Kupala Day- early summer. Now Kupala is celebrated from July 6 to 7 according to the new style, but rituals and folk traditions this day remained unchanged.
On the day of the summer solstice, people glorified the Sun, performed rituals to gain well-being and health, burned bonfires, danced in circles, held noisy celebrations, and collected medicinal herbs. This day was ideal for fortune telling and divination, so young girls did not miss the opportunity to find out their future and wondered about marriage.
On the night that followed the shortest day, it was not customary to sleep. Firstly, this night is light enough to sleep. Secondly, it was believed that by falling asleep, one could bring upon oneself troubles and misfortunes. People tried to spend this day and night with benefit for themselves - they performed rituals, ceremonies and told fortunes. Since this day is considered energetically strong, our ancestors used the forces of nature to attract prosperity and a good harvest. We wish you good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and
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In the Northern Hemisphere, the longest night of the year acquired mystical significance. The ancient priests were aware of the astronomical phenomenon of the solstice, although they could not fully understand its causes.
Time of day, seasons
The complex astronomical system of which the Earth is a part is unique. It has been established that such concepts as "day" and "night" are unknown for most planets located beyond solar system. Large clusters of stars, typical of the center of the Galaxy, do not leave the planets and space objects that revolve around them without light radiation. At any point on our planet, when the Sun drops below 18° below the horizon, astronomical night begins.
Life ancient man directly depended on nature, on its condition, on the change of seasons. He quickly established a pattern in the movement of the star throughout the year, the dependence of the duration of periods favorable for agriculture on In the middle and high northern latitudes, where the lack of natural light is especially noticeable, the longest night of the year meant that the most dark time a year has passed and the sun will linger a little longer in the sky.
Equinox and Solstice
Solstice - the period when the direction of daily change changes highest point above the horizon, which the luminary reaches in the middle of the day, between sunrise and sunset. This change - rise or fall - is uneven, slowing down for several days when the sun at noon seems to reach almost the same height above the horizon. Hence the name solstice days.
Winter and spring in the Northern Hemisphere are the times when this culminating point rises higher and higher every day. Day and night become equal in length on the day of the vernal equinox (around March 20), which means the onset of astronomical spring. The rise of the midday point reaches its apogee on June 20-21, and the reverse process begins.
Around September 22, the equinox marks the beginning of autumn in terms of the movement of the Sun and Earth. With each one it becomes a few minutes shorter, until the longest night of the year arrives - the winter solstice, the beginning of astronomical winter.
Earth's axis tilt
Each specific point on the surface of the globe has its own time and seasonal periods. The changing times of day and annual temperature cycles are influenced by the Earth's revolution around the Sun and the rotation of the planet around its axis. In this case, the axis of rotation is tilted by 23.5°. Because of this, fewer straight lines fall on the surface of the Northern Hemisphere sun rays, and in the northern circumpolar regions they for a long time do not reach at all, and in winter the polar night sets in there.
At zero latitude - at the earth's equator - the length of the day is approximately the same throughout the year and is about 12 hours. IN Southern Hemisphere the duration of daylight hours has inverse relationship depending on the time of year: from the last days of September to the end of March it is more than 12 hours, in spring and summer it is less. The longest night of the year in southern latitudes falls on June 22.
Instruments and tables
Determining the length of day and night has always seemed important for planning economic activity of people. Back in the Middle Ages, special instruments appeared, and data on the length of the day were published in calendars and calendars. From them it was always possible to determine how long the shortest day lasted. Different chronology systems adopted in different cultures, calendar reforms, and correction of the discrepancy between astronomical and civil time led to the fact that the date of the winter solstice was different every year.
Today there is world time, in most European and American countries it is valid Gregorian calendar, so you can find out what date is the longest night in the desired area of the planet using special tables. So, in 2016, the winter solstice is December 21, at 10:44 am. The duration of the night on this day is 17 hours.
Traditions and rituals
Since Neolithic times, solstice days have been expressed in rituals and buildings different nations. The stones of the famous Stonehenge are arranged in such a way as to indicate the position of the sun on the day that marks the beginning of astronomical winter.
In the northern latitudes there was a long period of waiting for spring, often the most difficult time of the year. It was necessary to slaughter cattle because the ripening beer and wine stored in the fall disappeared. The beginning of winter was accompanied by holidays. Among the Slavs - Kolyada, Solstice, among the Germans, Yodel was celebrated on the day of the longest night.
People saw the important meaning of this day in the fact that the longest night has passed, the day will begin to increase, which means there is hope for the revival of nature, faith in endless life. It is no coincidence that the holiday of the Nativity of Christ is tied to the day.
The shortest day in 2018 is December 22, 2018, Saturday. And, accordingly, the longest night in 2018 is the night from December 22 to December 23.
On this day at 12:28 Moscow time is the December solstice (winter solstice).
The shortest day in 2018 lasts 7 hours, 20 seconds (7:00:20). In terms of daylight hours, the shortest December day in 2018 is shorter than the June solstice (Thursday, June 21, 2018) by 10 hours, 33 minutes.
Also, it will be interesting to know that:
- The earliest sunset in 2018 is December 14.
- The latest sunrise in 2018 is December 29.
All living organisms need sunlight and feel its lack during those seasons when the days are shortened and the nights are lengthened. Any cycle has critical points changes in the nature of the cycle. The cycle of changes in the length of daylight hours includes the days of the equinox and the days of the solstices.
When does the phase of increasing daylight hours begin?
The phase of increasing daylight hours begins with the winter solstice and ends with the summer solstice. The intensity of the increase in daylight hours depends on the angle of declination of the Sun and the speed of its rotation. Practically, the day in the northern hemisphere begins to increase on December 24-25 by several minutes per day, then the intensity of the increase in day length increases.
Natural phenomena such as the increase and decrease of daylight hours occur in nature. The longest day is observed on June 22, then gradually decreases. Daylight hours decrease until December 22, at which point you can experience the shortest day and longest night of the year. Subsequently, the day begins to gradually regain its positions. This happens unnoticed, the difference is in minutes. A more visible result can be observed in about a month. On March 20-21, the day almost corresponds to the night - the spring equinox. This process occurs year after year, so 2018 is no exception.
At the end of June 2018, the days began to slowly decrease, and by December they would reach their minimum. In the northernmost cities there will even be a polar night. Everyone will be looking forward to the moment when the day begins to increase. This turning point will be the Winter Solstice, which falls on December 21-22. During this time the day is shortest. And the very next day – December 23, 2018 – the day will become longer by a few seconds. Here in this table with the times of sunrise and sunset in St. Petersburg you can clearly see how the length of the day will increase:
The magic of the winter solstice, rituals on this day
Winter solstice is one of the four main sunny days in astrology, along with the summer solstice and autumn and spring equinox.
In pagan times, the day before the winter solstice was called Karachun, which means “death” or “destruction.” People believed that evil forces They can make it so that the sun will not rise in the morning, so they helped it “to be born” in every possible way: even before dawn, they gathered and lit ritual fires from oak and pine logs and brought gifts to the forest gods - they baked pies and prepared uzvars, which they brought to the forest. Bread or pies were placed on the branches of old trees, and sweet drinks were poured on them as an offering to the forest deities to send a good harvest. Perhaps this is where the custom of decorating the Christmas tree came from.
In the morning, when the sun rose, they celebrated its rebirth - in fact, the winter solstice was the pagan New Year. That night they also caroled, and the girls also told fortunes about their betrothed. Subsequently, with the adoption of Christianity, these classes were moved to the Christmastide period.
When is the longest day and shortest night of the year, and how many days are they?
Longest day of the year in middle lane Russia
The longest day in 2017 occurred on June 21. For several days, the days were just as long (17 hours 33 minutes), and from June 24 the days began to decrease.
When, from what date in the summer, will daylight hours begin to decrease?
If we take data for Moscow, then the longest day was 17 hours 33 minutes.
For Moscow, the days will decrease in the following sequence:
- By the end of June, the day decreased by 6 minutes, and became 17 hours 27 minutes
- For July - by 1 hour 24 minutes, day length 16 hours 3 minutes
- For August - by 2 hours 8 minutes, the day lasts 13 hours 51 minutes
- Until the equinox (September 24), the day will shorten by 1 hour 45 minutes, the length of the day will be 12 hours 2 minutes
Incredible facts
From December 21 to 22, the Northern Hemisphere will experience its shortest day and longest night. This phenomenon is called the winter solstice.
The winter solstice marks the beginning of astronomical winter.
What happens during the winter solstice, when does this date fall, and what traditions exist on this day.
Here are the 10 most interesting facts about the shortest day of the year.
What date is the winter solstice in 2018
The date of the winter solstice varies from year to year and can fall between December 20 and 23, but most often occurs on December 21 or 22.
The reason is that the tropical year - the time it takes for the Sun to return to the same point relative to the Earth - is different from calendar year. The next winter solstice, which falls on December 20, will occur in 2080, and on December 23 only in 2303.
The winter solstice in 2018 falls on December 21 at 22:23 UTC ( December 22 at 1:23 MSK).
2. The winter solstice occurs at a certain short moment
The winter solstice occurs not only on a certain day, but also at a certain time of day, when the angle of the Earth's axis relative to the Sun is 23.5 degrees. In the northern hemisphere, the Sun occupies the lowest position above the horizon, and above the Arctic Circle the Sun does not even rise above the horizon.
As the winter solstice approaches daytime shortens and then gradually lengthens. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night in the northern hemisphere.
So, for example, in Moscow The length of the day during the winter solstice will be 7 hours 0 minutes 20 seconds compared to 17h 33m 40s during the summer solstice. In Helsinki, Finland, the day will last 5 hours 49 minutes, and in Murmansk there will be no sunrise at all - you can observe the polar night there.
4. Ancient cultures considered the winter solstice to be a time of death and rebirth
The seeming death of the world and the real threat of famine during the winter months weighed heavily on many cultures. Therefore, at this time, various holidays were often held, calling for the return of the Sun and hope for a new life.
During the rituals, fires were lit and sacrifices were made. cattle, after which they had a feast with dishes from the last fresh meat. In the Druid tradition, the death of the old Sun and the birth of the new Sun were revered.
5. The day is marked by new and unusual discoveries
Interestingly, on this day in 1898, Pierre and Marie Curie discovered radium, marking the beginning of the atomic age. And on December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 was launched, the first time humans entered lunar orbit and reached the Moon.
6. The word "solstice" is translated as "the sun stands still"
This is due to the position of the Sun in the sky relative to the horizon at noon, which rises or falls throughout the year and appears to stop at the solstice.
We are currently looking at this phenomenon from a cosmic location perspective. In ancient times, people thought about the trajectory of the Sun, how long it stood in the sky, and what kind of light it cast.
7. Stonehenge is aligned with the sunset on the winter solstice.
For a long time, for many people, the famous monument Stonehenge was a kind of sundial. Its main axis aimed at sunset, while another Newgrange monument marks the line of the rising Sun at the winter solstice.
Although the purpose of this ancient structure is still a matter of debate, it still has great importance during the winter solstice, bringing together many people from all over the world to celebrate this event.
Winter Solstice Festival
8. The ancient Romans celebrated the holiday of role reversal - Saturnalia
At this time, the Saturnalia holiday was held, when everything was turned upside down. Social roles exchanged, masters served slaves, and slaves were allowed to insult their masters. The holiday was named after the god Saturn, the patron saint of agriculture.
Wearing masks and pretending were also part of Saturnalia, where a king of revelry was chosen in each house. Over time, Saturnalia was replaced by Christmas, although many of its traditions in the West migrated to Christmas.
9. Many believed that dark spirits walked the earth during the winter solstice
The ancient Iranian festival of Yalda, celebrated on the longest night of the year, heralded the birth of ancient god The sun and his victory over darkness.
Zoroastrians believed that on this day they roamed the earth evil spirits. People tried to spend most of the night in each other's company, held feasts, conversations, told stories and poems in order to avoid any clashes with dark entities.
The presence of evil spirits on the longest night is also spoken of in Celtic and Germanic folklore.
10. During the winter solstice of 2012, the end of the world was predicted
December 21, 2012 corresponds to date 13.0.0.0.0 in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar used by the ancient Mayans. It marked the end of the 5126-year cycle. Many believed that such a combination of circumstances would lead to the end of the world or another cataclysm.