The winter solstice marks the beginning of winter and the shortest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. Here's a breakdown of what the winter solstice actually means.

Earth’s seasons occur because our planet is tilted at an angle (about 23.5 degrees) as we orbit the sun. The tilt causes each hemisphere to receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year.

Winter solstice, explained The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, according to the National Weather Service. This occurs due to the Earth's tilt from the sun.

In winter, the Northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, which means there are fewer hours of daylight overall. "Although the tilt of the Earth as compared to the plane of its orbit around ...

In winter, the Northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, which means there are fewer hours of daylight overall. "Although the tilt of the Earth as compared to the plane of its orbit around ...

In winter, the Northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, which means there are fewer hours of daylight overall. "Although the tilt of the Earth as compared to the plane of its orbit around the ...

The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23. Meanwhile, at the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is toward the sun, leading to the longest day and shortest night of the year.

The 2024 winter solstice will happen on Saturday, December 21. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the solstice is at 4:21 a.m. ET in the Northern Hemisphere.

The winter solstice for 2024 arrives Saturday. This marks the shortest day of the year, meaning Chicago will see the least amount of sunlight on this day and the most amount of darkness.

The winter solstice marks the first day of winter, ushering in the colder weather and holiday season. But daylight saving isn't to blame; the Earth's tilt is. When is the winter solstice 2024?