In the Northern Hemisphere, what is the shortest day of the year, also the longest night called?

Marking the end of autumn and the advent of winter, in the Northern Hemisphere, winter solstice marks the day on the calendar with the fewest sunlight hours, or simply the shortest day in the year. It also means it is the longest night of the year, occurring because it marks the point when one of the Earth’ s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun.

Since prehistoric time, the winter solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures, and has been marked by festivals and rituals. It marked the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun. Astronomical events like this were often used to guide rituals such as the mating of animals, the sowing of crops and the monitoring of winter reserves of food. This is attested by physical remains in the layouts of late Neolithic and Bronze Age archeological sites such as Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland.

Each year, hundreds of people gather at Stonehenge for the winter solstice, which falls around December 21st. On the solstice, people gather in the early morning to watch the sunrise over the stones. Pagan and Druid communities in the United Kingdom and Ireland dress in traditional costumes and mark the first sunrise after the astronomical event.