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Richmond has already seen its first snowfall of the season.

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Winter officially begins today

By Matthew Cheung

Published 3:28 PST, Wed December 21, 2022

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While colder weather has already arrived, the first official day of winter is today (Dec. 21), also known as the winter solstice.

A solstice is the time when the sun’s rays and the plane of the Earth’s equator appear at a standstill and the sun is at its highest or lowest point in the sky. The seasons are reversed for countries below the equator, in the southern hemisphere, where Dec. 21 is the summer solstice.

In the northern hemisphere, including Canada, the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year because half of the Earth is tilted its farthest away from the sun. Because of the Earth’s tilt, the winter solstice is also the day where a person’s noontime shadow is the longest all year. After the winter solstice, days will start getting longer as the northern hemisphere is gradually exposed to more sunlight, peaking at the summer solstice.

Many traditions are observed during this time of the year around the world. Yule is a pagan festival that celebrates the winter solstice, with traditions focused on fire and feasting. Some Yule traditions like the Yule log may have evolved into modern Christmas traditions.

The more recent Druidic festival Alban Arthan, which focuses on sun and light, is also linked to the winter solstice.

In ancient Chinese tradition, the Dongzhi Festival or Winter Solstice Festival is celebrated. It is regarded as a time for families to get together to celebrate the good of the past year. It is believed that after this day, positive things will become stronger and thus should be celebrated. Tang yuan, small balls of glutinous rice flour filled with red bean and served in a sweet soup or both, are eaten.

Similarly, in Korean traditions, the Dongji Winter Festival or Little New Year is celebrated. During this time, it is tradition to eat a red bean porridge called patjuk. The dish is seen as a way to keep bad spirits away while embracing good wishes for the upcoming year. Snow is also wished for, as Koreans regard cold weather on the winter solstice as a sign of bountiful harvest.

Across England, different traditions are practiced during the winter solstice. At the historical Stonehenge, many gather at dawn the day after the longest night to witness the sun rising through the stones. In Brighton, people dress up in costumes that represent clocks and start a huge bonfire, throwing lanterns in to symbolize wishes, hopes, and fears that will be passed into the flames.

In Cornwall, people celebrate the Montol festival, wearing carnival-like costumes and creating a “river of fire” with lanterns to celebrate the return of the sun. Some in Britain also partake in the ancient tradition of cutting mistletoe, as it is seen as a blessing that may possess healing properties.

For many, the winter solstice is seen as a day of preparation for the upcoming year. Families gather to celebrate the past year and embrace the year to come.