This holiday every year starts December 21 or the 22. The solstice is either of the two times a year when the sun is at its great distance from the equator. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice would start on the 21 when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn. It also occurs in June 20-21 when the sun shines directly over the tropic or the Cancer.

The sun spins on its axis which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of rotation. Because of this the northern hemisphere receives less sunlight while the southern hemisphere receives more direct sunlight creating summer.

The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun shows at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice.