The Winter Solstice: A Turning of Seasons

As the holidays approach, the sunset occurs a couple of minutes earlier each day until we reach the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice. This year the solstice falls on December 21 and brought some flurries with it to officially start the winter season.

The term "solstice" literally means the "sun stops." We are now at the point in our orbit where the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, and the sunset occurs further to the south on the horizon. Here in Rye, we only have nine hours of daylight! This stays relatively the same for about two weeks before the Earth’s movement in orbit adds a couple of minutes more of daylight each day. We reach the point of equal hours of day and night in March at the Vernal Equinox.

Many celebrations coincide with the return of light, like Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas.

Our local animals also have special adaptations to cope with the winter cold. Deer grow a thicker coat with darker fur that absorbs more warmth from the sun. Birds like owls, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees have extra feathers that they fluff up to maintain body heat. Our local birds also increase their food intake leading up to winter, so be sure to keep your feeders topped off!

Author: Mary Gillick, Environmental Educator

Pictured: House Finch at a local feeder