The Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, takes place between December 19 and 23. This year it fell on Monday, December 21.

Traditionally the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of Christmas and New Year celebrations worldwide.

Winter Solstice is that day of the year when we see the fewest hours of daylight. After the Winter Solstice, days start becoming longer and nights shorter for people in the Northern Hemisphere and it’s just the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere.

The world ‘solstice’ is derived from a Latin word meaning the ‘stalled sun’. Both Summer and Winter Solstices are astronomical events marking the movement of the Sun and change in the duration of day and night time

Our photograph was taken on the shortest day in 2019 at Albert Lough Marina