The shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, takes place this Sunday
The days will soon get longer again(Image: 2015 Emad Aljumah/Getty Images)
Scotland is on the cusp of its shortest day of the year, with the winter solstice due to occur later this week. After this point, we can look forward to gradually lengthening days and more daylight hours as we progress towards spring.
The precise date of the winter solstice fluctuates annually, but it consistently falls between December 20 and 23. This year’s solstice is slated for Sunday, December 21, occurring precisely at 3.03pm.
Sunset will follow at 3.45pm in Glasgow and 3.40pm in Edinburgh. The shortest day of the year heralds the beginning of astronomical winter, although meteorological winter begins earlier, on December 1.
Forecasters predict that the UK won’t see a sunset after 5pm until Wednesday, January 28, 2026. This is the case for County Fermanagh, one of the most westerly regions of Northern Ireland.
Glasgow will see its first post-5pm sunset 9 days later, on Friday, February 6. Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, the sun will set just after 5pm on Sunday, February 8, as reported by the Daily Record.
Winter solstice traditions and rituals have been celebrated by Pagans for thousands of years. Stonehenge hosts an annual gathering where attendees convene to watch the sunrise on the year’s shortest day.
Many Christmas customs, including Yule logs, mistletoe, and Christmas trees, originate from these Pagan winter solstice practices. The Druids, who served as the priests of the ancient Celts, used evergreen trees, holly, and mistletoe as symbols of everlasting life during these ceremonies.
