December solstice Dec. 21, 2023

Here"s to a great night out or a cozy night in on the longest night of the year! On this day, the Northern Hemisphere, where Canada is located, is tilted farthest from the sun, resulting in the earliest sunset and the shortest day of the year. Called the December solstice, it marks the official beginning of winter and longer days ahead, giving a nice boost to the festive mood.

© John Finney Photography/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Rainbow around the sun
Dec. 21, 2024Happy winter solstice!
Dec. 21, 2025Winter solstice

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun. 29, 2025International Day of the Tropics
Saving and celebrating honey bees
The Riviera of India
Dec. 10, 2025Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain
Jan. 7, 2026Old Rock Day
Meet an expert on the dog days of summer
Jul. 9, 2025Independence Day of the Argentine Republic
May 2, 2025Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil
Sep. 13, 2023Hemakuta Hill, Hampi
When just a pinch of salt won’t do
Apr. 21, 2025International Dark Sky Week
Frosty Finland
Who’s snoozing?
May 21, 2024International Tea Day
Jul. 25, 2024Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
Nov. 20, 2024World Childrens Day
Sep. 12, 2023North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Germany
Look, but don’t touch
May 31, 2024Gunnerside, Yorkshire Dales National Park, England
Apr. 2, 2025Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah, United States
Sep. 11, 2023French River, Ontario
Sep. 8, 2025International Literacy Day
Gravity-defying wonders of the world
Nothing says ‘San Francisco’ quite like...
Oct. 15, 2024Great wildebeest migration at Mara River, Kenya
Apr. 1, 2024April Fools Day
Stairway to where?
So fresh, so clean
The worlds most exclusive beach?
An island crossroad of culture