Sunday marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, signaling the start of astronomical winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's the longest day, marking the beginning of summer. The term "solstice" comes from Latin, meaning the sun's "pause" in its annual path. After the winter solstice, the sun begins to climb higher, and days gradually lengthen until late June. Solstices have been celebrated for ages, with monuments like Stonehenge aligning with the sun's paths. The equinox, in contrast, is when both hemispheres receive equal sunlight, leading to nearly equal day and night lengths.

Peak sunshine has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere — the summer solstice.

Spring is almost here — officially, at least.

According to the astronomical definition, winter will officially begin in the Northern Hemisphere on Dec. 21, 2022, at 1:47 p.m.: the shortest day of the year, known as the winter solstice. The weeks leading up to the winter solstice can feel long as days grow shorter and temperatures drop. But it's also traditionally been a time of renewal and celebration – little wonder that so many cultures mark major holidays just around this time.