The Date Of The Winter Solstice: 24 Special Hours And Reunion Moments Of The Year

In the Earth’s rotation around the Sun, there is a special time when the day is shortest and the night is longest, that is the Winter Solstice. This is not only one of the 24 important solar terms in the traditional calendar, but also an important astronomical phenomenon and carries many cultural, spiritual and symbolic values ​​for the transformation of nature.

The Time It Took Place

The winter solstice is the day when one hemisphere of the Earth is tilted farthest from the Sun. At this time, the Sun is at its lowest point in the midday sky, resulting in shorter daylight hours and longer darkness than any other day of the year.

• In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice usually falls on December 21 or 22.
• In the Southern Hemisphere, the same phenomenon occurs on June 20 or 21.

After this date, the daylight hours gradually lengthen, signaling the “return of the light”.

Various reasons and hypotheses

Scientific reasons

The reason for this phenomenon lies in the tilt of the Earth’s rotation axis (about 23.5 degrees) compared to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. This tilt causes the amount of light reaching each hemisphere to be different at different times of the year, forming the four seasons.

When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the Sun, the Sun will shine weaker and at a lower angle, creating winter and the Winter Solstice. This is a completely natural phenomenon, marking an important turning point in the cycle of time.

Cultural Significance and Spiritual Elements

 According to Yin Yang philosophy, Winter Solstice is an important turning point. The ancients believed that this was the time when Yin energy reached its peak, but at the same time, Yang energy also began to arise and grow, symbolizing rebirth, light and hope.

Reunion and Memorial Day

• Chinese culture regards Dongzhi as a major holiday, with the saying “Dongzhi is greater than the New Year”. It is an occasion for families to gather, reunite, show solidarity and pray for good fortune in the new year.

• A popular tradition is to pay respect to ancestors to show filial piety and pray for blessings.
• Indispensable dishes include tāngyuán, which symbolizes abundance and reunion; and dumplings (shuǐjiǎo) in Northern China, which are believed to ward off illness during the cold season.

Common misunderstandings

Many people think of the winter solstice as the coldest day of the year, but that is not the case. Due to thermal inertia, the Earth’s surface continues to lose heat after the winter solstice, causing the lowest temperatures to appear several weeks later. Therefore, the winter solstice only marks the transition between cold and the return of light, not the peak of winter.

Message and symbolic meaning

The Winter Solstice has a profound meaning of transformation, patience and belief in rebirth. It reminds us that no matter how long the darkness lasts, the light will return. This is a humanistic message that has been maintained by many cultures for thousands of years, symbolizing hope, new beginnings and the power of nature.

Conclusion

The Winter Solstice is not just a simple astronomical phenomenon, but also a milestone connecting science, nature and human spirituality. As the days get longer, it is also the time when we feel the constant movement of the universe and learn to appreciate every moment of light in life.

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