Mark the Shortest Day of the Year This Winter Solstice
The 2025 winter solstice arrives on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 10:03 a.m. EST, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. During the solstice, the Northern Hemisphere tilts farthest from the Sun, reducing daylight hours—cities like New York and Chicago lose about six hours, while northern cities like Minneapolis and Seattle see around seven hours less. Astronomically, the solstice signals winter’s start, though meteorologists count Dec. 1. After this date, daylight gradually increases, slowly extending through winter toward the summer solstice. 
