What is Winter Solstice? 3rd Solar Term

    Over two thousand five hundred years ago during the Spring and Autumn period, China already used a simple instrument to observe the sun and determine the Winter Solstice. It falls around December 22nd or 23rd of the Gregorian calendar each year. Which is the number of the solar term for Winter Solstice? What does Winter Solstice mean? Unclear friends, please join us to learn more with the 10,000 Year Calendar editor!

Which solar term is Winter Solstice

The twenty-four solar terms are: Start of Spring, Rain Water, Awakening of Insects, Spring Equinox, Qing Ming, Grain Rain, Start of Summer, Lesser Fullness, Grains in Ear, Summer Solstice, Lesser Heat, Great Heat, Start of Autumn, Limit of Heat, White Dew, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost's Descent, Start of Winter, Lesser Snow, Greater Snow, Winter Solstice, Lesser Cold, and Greater Cold. Each term is approximately half a month apart, distributed across twelve months. The ones at the beginning of each month are called terms, while those in the middle are known as "mid-terms," where the word "term" refers to weather or climate conditions. Winter Solstice is the 22nd solar term among the twenty-four.

What does Winter Solstice mean

Winter Solstice indicates the arrival of cold winter. At Winter Solstice, the sun's declination reaches 270 degrees. On this day, the sun almost directly shines on the Tropic of Capricorn, with the shortest daytime and longest night in the northern hemisphere, marking the beginning of nine-cold days. From an astronomical perspective, it is designated as the start of winter for the northern hemisphere. After Winter Solstice, the sun's direct radiation position gradually moves northward, leading to longer days in the northern hemisphere. Proverb: Eating noodles on the day of Winter Solstice makes each day a bit longer.

The origin of Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice originated from the Chinese Yin and Yang concept. Yin and Yang symbolize life balance and harmony, with the Chinese believing that when Winter Solstice arrives, the Yin, representing darkness and coldness, is at its strongest; yet it is also a crucial moment as the Yang, symbolizing light and warmth, gradually overcomes the extreme cold. Therefore, Winter Solstice is a joyful time of balance and harmony. Ancient people believed that although winter was still in full swing when Winter Solstice arrived, spring was not far away.

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