Winter Solstice, otherwise known as the first day of winter
and today would be that day!
December 21, 2015 at 11:48pm EST, according to the
Farmers Almanac.
The Winter Solstice
Winter inspires both joy and woe. Some people can't wait for the
cooler weather, snow, skiing and ice skating, curling up by a fire, and
the holiday spirit. Other people dislike the frigid temperatures,
blizzards, and wild weather.
The word solstice comes from the Latin words for "sun" and "to stand
still.” In the Northern Hemisphere, as summer advances to winter, the
points on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets advance southward
each day; the high point in the Sun’s daily path across the sky, which
occurs at local noon, also moves southward each day. At the winter
solstice, the Sun’s path has reached its southernmost position. The next
day, the path will advance northward. However, a few days before and
after the winter solstice, the change is so slight that the Sun’s path
seems to stay the same, or stand still. The Sun is directly overhead at
"high-noon" on Winter Solstice at the latitude called the Tropic of
Capricorn.
Winter solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight during
the whole year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it occurs around December 21
or 22. In the Southern Hemisphere, around June 20 or 21.
Wishing you a happy Winter Solstice
Safe travels this week!
George's Custom Towing
410-452-8970
Whiteford, MD
