The many facets of winter solstice

Every year, there’s a day with the longest night and the shortest amount of sunlight. This day is called the winter solstice, and it usually happens on Dec. 21. After this day, the days start getting longer, and the sun slowly comes back higher in the sky. Brandon usually gets around eight hours of sunlight and sixteen hours of darkness on this day.

A long time ago, civilizations in the northern hemisphere thought that the winter solstice was when the sun would be reborn. They believed that on Dec. 21 the old sun would go away and a new and stronger one would take its place. This is also the reason why they thought that the days would get longer after the solstice; it was a new sun with new power (History.com). In addition, they thought that it was a time to celebrate the earth’s renewal, promising future growth and fertility after the coldest, darkest period (Newgrange.com).

Nature slows down on this day. Plants have stopped growing, trees have lost their leaves to avoid wasting water and nutrients, and animals have gathered food in preparation for winter. Plants are dormant — a state in which they slow down or stop growth to survive cold, dry, or otherwise harsh conditions.

Scientists utilize the winter solstice in many different ways. The solstice helps track the orbit and tilt of the earth, which is critical for understanding seasons and climate patterns. They also make use of the solstice to study how day length affects plants and animals; such as dormancy, migration and hibernation patterns. The solstice shows the lowest angle of the sun, which helps engineers and architects calculate solar panel effectiveness or sunlight exposure for buildings.

Now, people celebrate the winter solstice in a variety of ways. Some people light candles and hold feasts to celebrate the return of the longer days that are coming, and others celebrate with dancing and music. At Stonehenge (a prehistoric stone circle built in what is now England about 4,500 years ago that lines up with the sun on the solstices), thousands of people gather to witness the sunrise aligned with the stones. Some visitors take part in drumming, singing, and dancing when the sun is perfectly aligned with the ancient structures.

This year, the solstice falls right on Dec. 21, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the past, people saw it as the rebirth of the sun and a time to celebrate the earth’s renewal. The winter solstice is a day that reminds us how people and nature are connected to the sun.

» Marie Lychuk is a Grade 10 student at École secondaire Neelin High School.