When is the Shortest Day?

In 2024, the Winter Solstice will be on Saturday, 21st December.

Winter solstice marks the shortest day, and longest night, of the year for the Northern Hemisphere.

The winter solstice, or the shortest day, occurs at the minimum point for the northern hemisphere when the sun is lowest in the sky. Since the earth is tilted on its axis, the arc the sun moves through during the day will rise and fall across the year as the earth’s pole points either towards or away from the Sun. At the winter solstice, the North Pole is pointing away from the sun.

After the Winter Solstice (shortest day), the days will continue to get longer until the Summer Solstice, which usually occurs between 20th-22nd June.

For us in the UK, the shortest day lasts just under 8 hours. 

What has Stonehenge got to do with the Solstices?

People flock to Stonehenge at the height of summer and the peak of winter. But why? Interestingly, Stonehenge is said to have been built to align with the sun on the solstices. At the Summer Solstice, the sun rises in the north-east of the horizon and shines rays into the heart of Stonehenge. At the Winter Solstice, the sun sets to the south-west of the stone formation. The sight is said to be magical! For more information about the Winter Solstice and Stonehenge, visit English Heritage.

Our Winter recipes can help warm and satisfy your stomach, even on the shortest Winter days.

To find out more about the Winter Solstice, visit EarthSky.