Beekeeping, Gardening and Quilting in Eastern Wake County, North Carolina









Sunday, December 21, 2008

Winter Begins - December 21


Longest Night of the Year

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, “sun” and -stitium, “a stoppage.” Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.
The precise moment of the 2008 solstice will be Sun., Dec. 21, 7:04 AM EST (12:04 UT).