The Winter Solstice is the day with the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest night in the Southern Hemisphere.
Origin of the Winter Solstice
Due to geographical location and cultural exchanges over the years, the Winter Solstice celebrated by the Vietnamese is similar to that of the Chinese, both originating from the agricultural calendar (or Lunar calendar).
Based on the movement of the Sun, Moon, and stars in the sky, combined with the principles of Yin and Yang, ancient people recognized that there are four seasons—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—in a year. Each season consists of six solar terms, totaling 24 solar terms in a year, among which the eight main terms are: Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, and Winter Solstice.
These eight solar terms originated from ancient Chinese calendars, and their names symbolize the beginning and ending points of each season. The Winter Solstice (or Dongzhi Festival) is the last solar term of the year, and the date of the Winter Solstice helps the Chinese determine the date of the Lunar New Year for the following year.
According to Western astronomy, this day marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. From an Eastern perspective, the Winter Solstice is considered the midpoint of winter, with the character “Chí” (至) in “Dongzhi” (冬至) meaning reaching the extreme point. On this day, the Sun will be at its highest point in the southern sky at noon before gradually moving back north.
The Winter Solstice is the day with the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest night in the Southern Hemisphere.
When is the Winter Solstice 2023?
The Winter Solstice marks the first day of the winter solar term. This solar term typically begins on around December 21 – 22 and ends around January 5 – 6 of the following year, just before the Lesser Cold term begins.
The Winter Solstice in 2023 will last from Friday, December 22, 2023, which corresponds to the 10th day of the 11th lunar month, and will end on Friday, January 5, 2024, which corresponds to the 24th day of the 11th lunar month.
Thus, the Winter Solstice this year will last for 15 days. The first day is the Winter Solstice itself—Friday, December 22, 2023.
In terms of Western astronomy, this is the moment related to the position of the planet in its orbit around the Sun, occurring when the solar longitude is 270 degrees in the Northern Hemisphere, and it marks the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
What is special about the Winter Solstice?
Our Earth is not upright; it tilts at an angle of 23.5 degrees relative to the plane of the ecliptic. Therefore, on the Winter Solstice, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted the most towards the Sun.
The Winter Solstice in Vietnam is not particularly special. However, many places worldwide celebrate this day as a holiday. The solstice occurs twice a year, once in summer known as the Summer Solstice in June, and once in winter referred to as the Winter Solstice in December. On the Winter Solstice, the Sun is at its highest point in the southern sky, while during the Summer Solstice, it is at its highest in the northern sky.
Determining the date of the Winter Solstice is very important. In Vietnam, the day itself may not hold much significance, but it is essential for many countries around the world.
For the Chinese
Since the Winter Solstice is determined according to ancient Chinese culture, it holds great significance for the people of China and other cultures influenced by ancient Chinese civilization. From the Chinese perspective, the Winter Solstice is a crucial factor for astronomers to determine the date of the Lunar New Year as well as to identify leap months in the lunar calendar. Therefore, the significance of the Winter Solstice is paramount for the Chinese.
Today, Chinese communities worldwide celebrate the Winter Solstice as a traditional festival of their ethnicity. This is a time for important rituals in traditional Chinese beliefs that have been observed for thousands of years.
During this time, festivals and traditional customs are celebrated, particularly the tradition of eating tangyuan. This is the dish known as “chè trôi nước”—a specialty of the Chinese people.
For countries around the world
Vietnamese tradition does not include any special activities on the Winter Solstice. However, the Winter Solstice is a lively time in many countries around the globe. Festivals are held in various places, such as: Festivus, Kwanzaa, Yalda Festival, Saturnalia, Hanukkah, and HumanLight Festival. Notably, the Yule Festival of Wicca is one of the eight Sabbats celebrated by modern polytheists worldwide.
- Yule Festival of the Norse, Teutonic, and Celtic people: In the Nordic, Teutonic, and Celtic countries, the Winter Solstice is the time for the Yule Festival. This is when people honor deities such as Odin, Thor, and Frey during their peak hunting night.
- Yalda Festival of Romania: The Romanians celebrate the Yalda Festival on the Winter Solstice to commemorate the escape from darkness. During this festival, they often wear bear costumes and participate in nighttime parades.
- Saturnalia of Ancient Rome: Saturnalia was an important part of ancient Roman culture. On this day, people honored the agricultural deity Saturn for providing food. It was a time for relaxation, joy, and expressing gratitude.
- Christmas: Christmas is also a major celebration held in many countries around the world, including Vietnam. Besides being the Winter Solstice, it is believed by Christians to be the day Jesus Christ was born. Thus, Christian followers hold this festival in high regard.
Characteristics of the Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice is known for being the longest night of the year. However, only countries in the Northern Hemisphere experience longer nights than days, while countries in the Southern Hemisphere have longer days than nights.
The Winter Solstice is a time when all living beings conserve energy and prepare for the sprouting and growth period in spring. This is the coldest time of the year, so animals, plants, and humans tend to contract and have less interaction with the outside environment. Many species remain dormant, waiting for the opportunity to become active later.
During the Winter Solstice, trade winds and oceanic air masses cause significant weather changes, with less heavy rainfall but varying between dry spells and uncomfortable humidity.
During the Winter Solstice, trade winds and oceanic air masses will cause significant weather changes. While not leading to heavy rain, they can create humid and uncomfortable conditions.
The Winter Solstice also marks one of the most significant weather changes of the year. Therefore, people need to prepare their health and adjust their activities to adapt to these changes.
In the Winter Solstice period, the harsh cold weather can be detrimental to those suffering from respiratory and joint diseases. During this time, it is advisable to increase vitamin C intake to boost immunity and maintain a balanced diet to provide nutrition for the body.
Older adults and those with joint problems should consider using dietary supplements and foot massages to promote blood circulation, leading to better sleep quality.
Additionally, families can use dehumidifiers and clothes dryers during this time to avoid dampness and discomfort.
