When this time of year rolls around, everyone is getting into the holiday spirit. Sitting under twinkling lights, cozying up by the fire with a hot cocoa in hand; very warm and cozy, and very fitting for the end of December. However, when we start marking December 20-23 on the calendar, a different kind of mindset enters; cold, ice, and especially in Wisconsin, snow.
Yes, at exactly 4:23 PM (CST) on Friday, December 21, 2018, we officially will welcome winter.
We all grew up knowing that winter comes around this time every year, but why does it? Well, your "Weather On The 1s" team is here to share that story.
With the return of the winter solstice, the North Pole is tilted about 23.5 degrees from the sun. Because the earth's southern hemisphere is tilted closer toward the sun, this region receives more solar energy from the sun, thus, creating warmer temperatures this time of year. The opposite effect is felt in the northern hemisphere. Not only do we get ready to embrace colder temperatures, but the winter solstice brings in the shortest day of the year for areas like Wisconsin (don't get too sad by this, the days will only get longer from here).
For those of you soaking up all this information, here's a little more that you can share during dinner time with the family:
- Different communities around the world celebrate this time of year with feasts and festivals
- Fire and light are symbols associated with the winter solstice
- Historians believe that the winter solstice could have been celebrated as far back as the Stone Age
- Certain monuments and devices were created because of the path of the sun
Knowing winter is here and that even colder temperatures will soon arrive, why not celebrate the winter solstice with a nice, hot beverage and staying indoors while cozying up underneath several blankets? At least, that's how I plan on celebrating the day.
Happy Winter 2018-2019!