In 2019, the winter solstice arrives on Dec. 21 marking the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The winter solstice always occurs around Dec. 21 or 22. It is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight in the whole year.
Is winter solstice really the start of winter? The Farmer’s Almanac states it depends on which definition of “winter” you follow:
• Astronomical winter begins at the winter solstice and ends at the spring equinox. Astronomical seasons are based on the position of Earth in relation to the Sun.
• Meteorological winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) starts on Dec. 1 and ends on Feb. 28 (or 29). Meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle and climatological patterns observed on Earth.
Because an almanac is traditionally defined as a “calendar of the heavens,” The Old Farmer’s Almanac follows the astronomical definition of the seasons, which states each of the four seasons starts on a solstice or equinox.