general

definition of winter solstice

The solstice It is an event of an astronomical nature and that designates the seasonal changes that mark the arrival of winter and summer. It is characterized especially, because either the one corresponding to summer or winter, a marked difference will be observed between day and night, respectively.

So, there are two solstices that occur during the year, the one corresponding to winter occurs between December 21 and 22 and marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere, while the summer solstice starts on June 21 or 22 and sends the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere.

As a consequence, the winter solstice turns out to be lthe longest night of the whole year and the shortest day and as a counterpart, the summer solstice is characterized by bringing us the longest day of the year and the shortest night.

This happens because the planet earth rotates around the sun and its own axis, while that axis must be imagined as a straight line that goes from the North Pole to the South Pole and is not perpendicular but rather has an angle of 23.5 degrees that will make that from March to September it leans towards the sun, which is what will mark the various seasons.

It should be noted that since ancient times, human civilization has been aware of these events called solstices, even they have even caused the development of rites and special celebrations in their names.

In the particular case of Europe, there are many countries that celebrate the winter solstice because it marks the rebirth of the sun, since from that day on the days will get longer and longer. One of the most widespread practices was the burning of a log, the ashes were kept and in this way it was intended to ward off the evil spirits present. This practice is also used to make the fields produce more crops.

And in the western part of the earth the winter solstice is also celebrated, however, another activity is proposed that consists of keeping up the long night that this solstice proposes in order to ward off evil spirits.

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