Learn more about the wonderful phenomenon that is the winter solstice with this helpful fact sheet.

1. Facts about the winter
Witness solstice
Why does it happen?
The earth spins on an axis – a line tthat
The
he • It takes its name from the Latin phrase
‘sun stands still’ (sol + stice)
• The winter solstice falls every year
goes th
oes through the two poles. The axi is
he axis
titled 23.5 degrees which is why we
experien four seasons. This is why half
perience
around December 21st or the 22nd.
Wonder Of • It celebrates the return of the summer
light
of the E
f Earth receives more sun than the
other half.
n
The W
Winter • One theory suggests Stonehenge was
built to celebrate the winter solstice
• Astronomy suggests the earth’s orbit tilts
Solstice.
olstice. away from the sun. After winter solstice,
the Earth begins to tilt back with every
passing day – a return to spring.
There are many locations The winter solstice
where you can observe this marks the…
phenomenon around the UK. • Shortest day and the longest night of the
year
Learn new skills and meet new • Start of longer days leading up to summer.
• Years darkest day
people by volunteeri
olunteering, which • First day of winter in the Northern
is both exciting and rewarding. hemisphere and the first day of
summer in the Southern hemisphere
• When the sun is closest to the Earth
during winter solstice, creating the least
amount of daylight.