What, exactly, is a solstice?

By: Janese Watson

 

What is a solstice? It happens twice each year: the summer solstice and the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest and shortest days. There are huge differences in both. The winter solstice is the solstice that offsets winter, at the time of the shortest day. It happens at about December 22, in the northern hemisphere, and June 21, in the southern hemisphere. The summer solstice is the solstice that marks the onset of summer, at the time of the longest, about June 21 in the northern hemisphere and December 22 in the southern hemisphere. 

Solstices are known as a seasonal shift that nearly everyone notices. It never fails to happen every year. Most people look at it as a celebration, no matter where you live. For the people that live in the northern hemisphere, you can see late dawns and early sunsets, and the low arc of the sun across the sky each day. Most people notice how low the sun appears in the sky at local noon. “I’ve always liked it being dark outside longer,” explains junior Shakur Watson. Around the time of the December solstice, it’s your longest noontime shadow of the year. In the southern hemisphere, it is opposite. Dawn usually comes early, and dusk comes late. “In my opinion, I like the summer solstice better, because I love longer days,” mentions senior Larkyn Hendrickson. The sun is high. It’s your shortest noontime of the year.

What exactly does solstice mean? Solstice is from the Latin word “solstitium,” meaning “sun-stopping,” because the point at which the sun appears to rise and set stops and reverses direction after this day. Over the centuries, the June solstice was a time when festivals, celebrations and other festivities were celebrated. In ancient times, solstices and equinoxes were important in guiding people to develop and maintain calendars, as well as helping them to grow crops. Solstices are not always the first thing people care to learn about, but it is important for people to understand the seasons and weather because it plays a key role in every day.