20th or 21st December? When Is the Winter Solstice In 2025 And How Is It Different From Meteorological Winter

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The winter solstice arrives once a year, but it's often misunderstood or briefly mentioned without much explanation. It's tied to December and connected to changes in daylight, and it raises the same question every year. When exactly does it happen, and why does it matter at all?

Photo Credit: Oneindia

Is The Winter Solstice On 20th Or 21st December?

In 2025, the winter solstice falls on Sunday, 21 December.

The confusion comes from the fact that the solstice is not a full-day event. It happens at a precise moment, not at midnight. In 2025, that moment occurs at 15:03 UTC, which converts to around 8:32 pm IST on 21 December.

In some countries and time zones, that same moment can still fall late on 20 December, which is why you'll occasionally see both dates mentioned globally. For India and most of the Northern Hemisphere, 21 December is the correct date.

Winter Solstice Vs Meteorological Winter

Weather experts say winter starts on 1st December, 2025. That's meteorological winter, which is based on climate patterns, not astronomy.

• Astronomical winter: Begins with the winter solstice (21 December 2025)
• Meteorological winter: Runs from December to February

Both are correct, they just serve different purposes.

What Exactly Is The Winter Solstice?

The winter solstice is the day when the Sun appears lowest in the sky for the Northern Hemisphere. It happens because Earth is tilted on its axis by about 23.4 degrees. On this day, the Northern Hemisphere is angled farthest away from the Sun.

What does that mean in daily life?

• Shortest day of the year
• Longest night of the year
• The official start of astronomical winter

From the next day onward, daylight slowly begins to increase even though winter temperatures often peak much later.

Astrology And The Winter Solstice

While the winter solstice is primarily an astronomical event, it also has astrological significance. In Western astrology, this day marks the Sun's entry into Capricorn, symbolising a shift in energy and a quiet moment of new beginnings. Many cultures see this period as a time for reflection, planning, or setting goals for the months ahead, linking the natural shortening of days to personal and seasonal renewal.

What Happens In India On The Winter Solstice?

In India, the winter solstice on 21 December 2025 brings the shortest stretch of daylight for the year.

In Delhi, for example:

• Sunrise: around 7:10 am
• Sunset: around 5:29 pm
• Total daylight: just over 10 hours

The exact timings vary slightly depending on your city, but across India, this date marks the turning point when days begin getting longer again.

Why Does The Sun Seem To 'Pause' On This Day?

The word solstice comes from Latin and roughly translates to "Sun stands still." Around this time, the Sun's movement along the horizon appears to slow down before reversing direction.

It's not that the Sun actually stops, it's just how Earth's tilt and orbit make the movement look from our perspective.

What About The Southern Hemisphere?

While the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter solstice, the Southern Hemisphere has its summer solstice on the same day. That means:

• Their longest day
• Their shortest night
• The start of astronomical summer

One planet, two completely opposite seasonal experiences, all because of Earth's tilt.

The Significance Of Winter Solstice

Long before modern calendars, people tracked the solstice closely. Ancient structures like Stonehenge were aligned with solstice sunrises and sunsets. In East Asia, the Dongzhi Festival marks the return of longer days and is still observed today. Across cultures, the idea was simple: after the darkest stretch, light begins to return.

So, to settle it once and for all: the winter solistice in 2025 is on 21 December. It marks the shortest day, the longest night, and a quiet shift in Earth's journey around the Sun. From the very next day, daylight begins its slow return, even if winter still has a long way to go.