Thiebes at 14:12, 3 March 2005

2005-03-03T14:12:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:12, 3 March 2005
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	==See also==		==See also==
			*[[Equinox]]
	*[[Summer solstice]]		*[[Summer solstice]]
			*[[Sun]]
	*[[Calendar]]		*[[Calendar]]
	*[[Holidays]]		*[[Holidays]]
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	*[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_170b.html Solstice does not signal season's start?] (from [[The Straight Dope]])		*[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_170b.html Solstice does not signal season's start?] (from [[The Straight Dope]])
	*[http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/seasondate.htm Solstice Dates and Times]		*[http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/seasondate.htm Solstice Dates and Times]

			[[Category:Astrology]]

Thiebes at 14:05, 3 March 2005

2005-03-03T14:05:53Z

New page

{{thelema}}
In astronomy and [astrology]], the '''winter [[solstice]]''' is the moment when the earth is in a point of its orbit at which the northern or southern hemisphere is most inclined '''away''' from the [[sun]]. This causes the sun to appear at its farthest '''below''' the [[celestial equator]] when viewed from earth. ''Solstice'' is a Latin borrowing and means "sun stand," referring to the appearance that the sun's noontime elevation change stops its progress, either northerly or southerly.

The date of the winter solstice is the date with the shortest day and the longest night of the year. In the northern hemisphere, this date usually falls on December 21/December 22 on the common [[calendar]], while it falls on June 21/June 22 in the southern hemisphere. These dates are also the dates of the [[summer solstice]] in the opposing hemisphere. At the summer solstice, the hemisphere is inclined '''towards''' the sun, and it appears to be at its farthest '''above''' the celestial equator.

In some reckonings, the winter solstice is the first day of winter. In the Chinese calendar, for example, the winter solstice is called ''dong zhi'' (winter's arrival) and is regarded in certain Chinese areas as an equally, if not more, important ''Jie Chia'' compared to the Chinese New Year.

In other reckonings, the winter solstice is midwinter. In Ireland, the solstices and [[equinox|equinoxes]] all occur at about midpoint in each season. For example, winter begins on November 1, and ends on January 31.

The winter solstice is the time when the Germanic festival of [[Yule]] was celebrated; it is celebrated today as a [[Neopaganism|Neopagan]] [[Sabbat (neopaganism)|Sabbat]]. Many cultures celebrate or celebrated a holiday near (within a few days) the winter solstice; examples of these include Yalda, [[Saturnalia]], Christmas, and Hanukkah.

==See also==
*[[Summer solstice]]
*[[Calendar]]
*[[Holidays]]

==References==
*Wikipedia (2005). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice Winter solstice].'' Retrieved March 3, 2005.

==External links==
*[http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/badseasons.html The seasons begin at the time of the solstice or equinox] (from the [[Bad Astronomer]])
*[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_170b.html Solstice does not signal season's start?] (from [[The Straight Dope]])
*[http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/seasondate.htm Solstice Dates and Times]

Winter solstice - Revision history

Thiebes at 14:12, 3 March 2005

Thiebes at 14:05, 3 March 2005