The UK is about to see its shortest day of the year, with the winter solstice to occur later this week. Days will begin to lengthen after this, with more and more hours of light as we head towards the spring.
When the winter solstice takes place changes each year, although it is always between December 20 and December 23. This year’s solstice takes place on Saturday, December 21.
The solstice will occur at 9:21am GMT in the UK, and the sun will set at 3:53pm in London. It is the astronomical start of winter, although the meteorological winter begins a bit earlier, on December 1.
According to forecasts, the UK will then not see a post-5pm sunset until Monday, January 27, 2025. This is the case for County Fermanagh, one of the most western parts of the country.
Those in London can expect to wait a further ten days – until February 6 – for the sun to set at 5pm, while it’ll be around February 7 for Edinburgh. Cardiff, forecasts add, is expected to see a 5pm sunset for the first time in months on January 31, while for Birmingham it’ll be February 4 – or thereabouts.
Winter solstice traditions and rituals have been celebrated by Pagans for thousands of years. Stonehenge hosts an annual event where attendees gather to watch the sunrise on the shortest day of the year.
Many Christmas traditions, including Yule logs, mistletoe and Christmas trees, originate from these Pagan winter solstice celebrations. The Druids, priests of the ancient Celts, used evergreen trees, holly and mistletoe as symbols of everlasting life during these rituals.
