Happy winter solstice 2024 !

WhatThe

Winter solstice is a time of renewal and growth so let's welcome the change 😊

WhatThe

Here's the science behind why the solstice happens

Winter solstice happens when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the Sun during the Earth’s orbit.

In the southern hemisphere it's the opposite story - the South Pole is pointing towards the Sun, making it summer in countries like Australia. People there will be celebrating their summer solstice today.

But even though this is the day with the fewest hours of daylight, the solstice does not mark the earliest sunset of the year, or the latest sunrise.

The mornings will continue darkening until early in the new year. That’s because a solar day is not always exactly 24 hours long.

BBC

WhatThe

The northern hemisphere is now the furthest it will be from the sun

As the clock strikes 09:21 GMT, it marks the official time of the solstice in the UK. That means that the Earth has reached its maximum tilt on its axis away from the Sun.

It also means that from here, the days will get progressively longer until the summer solstice in June. If you're growing tired of long nights and dark mornings, more daylight will be on the way in the weeks ahead.

Littlefatfriend

I suggest that the solstice explains the timing of the Xmas tradition, almost literally in the bleak midwinter. A boost can help.

Lack of sunlight has all manner of well understood negative consequences for people, hence the notoriously high suicide rates in Scandinavia during winter.

I don't really celebrate Xmas and I'm no pagan, but I quietly celebrate the winter solstice. It'll be spring before we know it.

Coincidentally today a friend helped me turn over and mix compost to the top of the raised beds in my front garden. It's almost a new year, hurrah!

JW77

I too was in the garden
helebores look much better with a mulch around them as they come into flower

There’s still my Buddlia to prune between now and April.

Plus going over seeds and selecting some to start in Feb

JW77

just a strip of Broad Beans sown last month

At a local community garden

Looking great

Adrian_Scope

Happy (belated) Winter Solstice to you too @WhatThe. Thank you for sharing the science behind it too.