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Winter Solstice – Shortest Day of the Year

Solstices are opposite on either side of the equator, so the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.

December solstice illustration

The December Solstice.

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Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice:

(North America, Central America, Europe, Asia, northern Africa)

December Solstice in Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal is on
Terça-feira, 21 de Dezembro de 2021, 15:59 WET (Change city)

December Solstice in Universal Coordinated Time is on
Terça-feira, 21 de Dezembro de 2021, 15:59 UTC

Southern Hemisphere Winter Solstice:

(Australia, New Zealand, South America, Southern Africa)

June Solstice in Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal is on
Segunda-feira, 21 de Junho de 2021, 4:32 WEST (Change city)

June Solstice in Universal Coordinated Time is on
Segunda-feira, 21 de Junho de 2021, 3:32 UTC

First Day or Mid Winter?

In the USA and some other areas in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the first day of winter. However, the official date for the first day of winter varies depending on the country's climate, and whether they follow astronomical or meteorological seasons.

Topics: Astronomy, Seasons, December, June, Sun, Solstice