Paper lanterns on the longest night Dec 21, 2018

Paper lanterns on the longest night

For the winter solstice today, we’re in Santa Fe, where residents celebrate the holidays with lovely paper lanterns known as farolitos, or luminarias. The annual Farolito Walk takes place each Christmas Eve in the city’s Canyon Road arts district, but the farolitos are often on display much earlier, lighting the way among the pueblo-style architecture that this region is known for. Winter solstice marks both the official start of winter, and the longest night of the year—meaning these paper lanterns will be put to good use tonight.

© Julien McRoberts/Danita Delimont

palette

Today in History

Dec 21, 2019Seventeen arches at sunset
Dec 21, 2020Shadows on the solstice
Dec 21, 2021Winter solstice
Dec 21, 2022Winter solstice
Dec 21, 2023Winter solstice
Dec 21, 2024Happy winter solstice!

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 25, 2019The migrating monarchs of Michoacán
Aug 7, 2019Nubble Island’s only industry
Nov 2, 2020Waiting for winter
Mar 14, 2025Celebrating Pi Day
Jan 25, 2020Happy New Year! (Again!)
Dec 1, 2024Antarctica Day
Jul 23, 2025Vatican City with St. Peters Basilica
Jul 3, 2023The dog days of summer
Oct 17, 2019Red-leaf hunting in Japan
Sep 12, 2019Astrotourism at its finest
Jun 1, 2022World Reef Day
Apr 9, 2018The Lena Delta Wildlife Reserve in Siberia, Russia
Dec 27, 2023Kirkjufell, Iceland
Sep 22, 2023World Rhinoceros Day
Mar 1, 2024Womens History Month
Sep 5, 20242024 Toronto International Film Festival
Nov 4, 2022A century since Tut s tomb was discovered
Jul 7, 2018The Grand Départ: Tour de France begins
Jan 9, 2022Rice processing in Bangladesh
Nov 12, 2023Diwali
Mar 10, 2025National Napping Day
Jul 24, 2021Can you see the family resemblance?
Dec 13, 2019Taking the scenic route
Jan 17, 2023Muniellos Nature Reserve
Mar 4, 2019The eloquence of elephants
Jun 18, 2025Pollinator Week
Sep 21, 2024Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
Oct 7, 2018Room at the top?
Feb 13, 2022American bison
Feb 7, 2018The Kelpies statues in Falkirk, Scotland