December has many important holidays. From Christmas, to Hanukkah, to Kwanzaa, there is so much to prepare for this time of year. But another important day is coming too this December: The Winter Solstice on December 21, 2025.
The Winter Solstice is the exact day when the seasons shift from Autumn to Winter. However, that is not the only thing special about it. I think we have all noticed that the days are getting shorter. Dusk has become earlier and earlier; it is pitch black at 5:00 pm. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year; the day with the least hours of daylight. This means that the days are only going to get shorter as we near the Winter Solstice. After it, the days will slowly become longer and longer until the Summer Solstice. As a child, I was often told that the days were longer in Spring and Summer, and shorter in Winter and Fall; however this is only half true. Spring is only when the days have gotten significantly longer than they were in Winter to the point where it’s noticeable. It is also important to acknowledge that many cultures had, and still have, celebrations around the Winter Solstice. These celebrations include, but not limited to, the Norse and Germanic celebration of Yule, which originated in Pagan tradition. Nowadays, Yule is considered a part of Christmas for many, but make no mistake, it originated as its own celebration, dedicated to the Winter Solstice.
This year, although we may have different December celebrations, we all live on the same Earth and under the same elements. We all are going to experience the shorter days and the Winter Solstice in spite of all our differences. So bundle up, get some sleep, and remember there are still a few short days to come until the Winter Solstice.
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