Winter Solstice (Yule)

The longest night of the year

The longest night of the year is also its lowest point: after it, the light starts to return. The winter solstice is not about pushing forward but about stillness: staying with the dark for a while, tending a small flame and trusting that the light comes back.

What's happening in the sky

Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4° to its orbit. On the December solstice the Northern Hemisphere leans furthest away from the Sun: it rises lowest and stays up for the shortest time, which gives the shortest day and the longest night.

It is also a turning point: right after the solstice the days start to lengthen. That is why many traditions treat it not as the death of the light but as its rebirth, the darkest moment from which the sun begins its return.

What is a solstice?

Twice a year the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky (the summer solstice, the longest day) or its lowest (the winter solstice, the shortest day). The cause is the tilt of the Earth's axis. For thousands of years these days have been anchor points of calendars and festivals across cultures.

What is the Wheel of the Year?

The Wheel of the Year is an annual cycle of eight festivals marking the movement of the Sun and the turning of the seasons: four “solar” points (two solstices and two equinoxes) and four cross-quarter festivals between them. Together they form a clear map of the natural year.

Your day today

Night ends:02:52(5h 57m ago)

Nautical dawn:03:22(5h 27m ago)

Dawn:03:52(4h 57m ago)

Blue hour ends:04:02(4h 46m ago)

Sunrise:04:18(4h 30m ago)

Sunrise ends:04:21(4h 27m ago)

Golden hour ends:04:55(3h 54m ago)

Solar noon:09:33(in 44m)

Golden hour starts:14:11(in 5h 23m)

Sunset starts:14:44(in 5h 56m)

Sunset:14:47(in 5h 59m)

Blue hour starts:15:03(in 6h 15m)

Dusk:15:14(in 6h 25m)

Nautical dusk:15:44(in 6h 56m)

Night:16:14(in 7h 25m)

Moon right now

Tradition layers

Wicca

The Wiccan festival of the winter solstice. The longest night and the rebirth of the Sun: a time of warmth, candlelight and quiet hope for the returning day.

What it means for you today

The winter solstice is about the right to pause. Not a day for bold leaps, but for footing and quiet: let yourself slow down, let the old year go, and gently plant the seed of an intention that can grow with the returning light. A quiet point of support, not a verdict.

The light returnsSeed of the newStillness and ground

Ritual for this event

Related modules

Next solar point