This is the day with the shortest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. At the North Pole there is continuous darkness or twilight , and marks the beginning of Winter, as well as the days get longer and nights shorter until the Summer Solstice in June.
In the UK thousands people meet to celebrate at Stonehenge for sunrise, one of the few times people are allowed to get close to the stones there.
Holidays & Special Events 