Embracing the Winter Solstice: Celebrating the Longest Night of the Year

The winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, will occur on Thursday at 10:27 p.m. ET, marking the first day of winter. Historical monuments like Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland will livestream the event. Different cultures around the world celebrate the winter solstice in their own ways, with traditions such as Yule, Yalda, Soyal, and Dongzhi. The timing of the seasons is determined by both astronomical and meteorological factors, with the exact date of the winter solstice varying each year.