The Winter Solstice Explained in Chicago area

The Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, holds great significance in many cultures around the world. In the Chicago area, this celestial event is celebrated with various traditions and rituals that have been passed down through generations.

One of the most iconic events during the Winter Solstice in Chicago is the lighting of the city's Christmas tree at Millennium Park. This grand ceremony marks not only the beginning of winter but also symbolizes hope and unity among its residents. Families gather around to witness this magical moment, as thousands of twinkling lights illuminate the night sky.

Since the calendar isn’t a perfect reflection of the Earth’s movements through space, the solstice doesn't mean the Chicago area will see its earliest sunset.

The earliest sunset of the year actually occurred earlier this month in the city of Chicago, just after 4:19 p.m. In fact, on Dec. 15, the sun will actually set at 4:20 p.m., showing that sunset is actually starting to grow later a week before the solstice.

The days, however, are still becoming shorter, and that’s because the sunrise is occurring later and later, and will continue to do so until early January, when the sunrise will occur at approximately 7:18 a.m.

During this week’s solstice, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, so the sun hangs lowest in the sky. Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, the sun sits over the Tropic of Capricorn, an imaginary line at 23.5 degrees south of the equator, giving that hemisphere its full glare and staying in the sky for longer.

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, the astronomical seasons are marked by solstices and equinoxes, the points at which the sun aligns over the equator. Separate from astronomical seasons, meteorological seasons split the year into three-month groups based on temperature cycles and "are more closely tied to our monthly civil calendar than the astronomical seasons are.

While winter solstice may be a natural phenomenon observed worldwide, its celebration in Chicago holds unique charm and significance. From tree-lighting ceremonies to ice skating and bonfires on Lake Michigan's shores, these traditions bring people together to embrace the beauty of winter solstice in their own distinctive way.

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Sarah  H

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