The 2024 winter solstice is here: Meaning, date and time, historical significance, and why it matters

It’s all uphill after Saturday, December 21.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the longest night of the year is almost upon us. Saturday, December 21, marks the winter solstice. An optimistic way to view this astronomical first day of winter is that there are brighter and warmer days ahead. A realist might point out that you first have to deal with cold and darkness.